Northern Gannet
Image: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://photo-natur.de/">Andreas Trepte</a> (CC BY-SA 2.5)
NameNorthern Gannet
Common NameNorthern Gannet
Scientific NameMorus bassanus
FamilySulidae
Wingspan (cm)175
Length (cm)93.5
Weight (g)3050
Plumage DetailsAdults have brilliant white body plumage with black primary wing feathers. The head and nape are a distinctive pale yellowish-buff, and they possess a pale blue eye ring. The bill is long, pointed, and greyish with dark lines.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations are typically harsh, guttural 'arrah' or 'grah' calls, especially at noisy breeding colonies. They can also produce a variety of squawks and grunts.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal, open ocean, cliffs
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds on coasts and islands of the North Atlantic, including Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, the UK, Ireland, and France. Winters further south in the Atlantic, often off the coasts of Africa and the Gulf of Mexico.
Identifying Featureslarge size, white body plumage, pale yellow head, black wingtips, long pointed bill, blue eye ring, plunge-diving behavior
Description
A large, striking seabird with brilliant white plumage, a pale yellow head, and black wingtips. They are powerful flyers and spectacular plunge-divers, often seen soaring over coastal waters before diving headfirst for fish.
