Northern Gannet

Morus bassanus

Plunging from dizzying heights, this high-speed, fish-catching missile of the bird world transforms coastal waters into its own dramatic hunting ground.

Share this bird:

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Northern Gannet is a striking seabird with predominantly white plumage, contrasting black wingtips, and a pale yellow head. Its long, pointed bill is blue-grey and has distinctive blue eye-rings.

Gannets do not show obvious sexual dimorphism, so males and females are very similar in size and appearance.

Juveniles are dark brown with white speckles, gradually becoming whiter with each moult. They take 4-5 years to develop their white adult plumage. Adults in breeding plumage display more intense yellow on their heads.

Size

Length

87cm to 100cm

Wingspan

165cm to 180cm

Weight

2.3kg to 3.6kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

White

Secondary Colour

Black Yellow

Beak Colour

Blue Grey

Leg Colour

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Northern Gannet is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Northern Gannet is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Northern Gannet is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Northern Gannet can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Northern Gannet is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Northern Gannet is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Northern Gannet is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Northern Gannet is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Northern Gannet is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Northern Gannet is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Northern Gannet is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Northern Gannet is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Northern Gannets inhabit the North Atlantic, breeding on rocky cliffs and islands along the coasts of Eastern Canada, Greenland, Iceland, and Western Europe.

They are particularly numerous around the British Isles, with significant colonies in Scotland. A visit to reserves like Bempton Cliffs in the northeast of England, Troup Head in Scotland or, for the more adventurous, Noup Cliffs in Orkney is recommended.

During non-breeding seasons, they disperse widely across the North Atlantic and into the Mediterranean, with some individuals reaching West Africa. In North America, they can be seen along the eastern seaboard.

Gannets can be seen off the east coast of the USA from the New England coast all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 200 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Northern Gannet. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons