# Northern Gannet (*Morus bassanus*) The Northern Gannet is a large, beautiful bird known for its white feathers and sharp beak. It dives into the ocean to catch fish! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas and open oceans - **Also known as:** Gannet ![Northern Gannet](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426747/objects/4629.jpg) ## Appearance The Northern Gannet is a large, striking seabird with brilliant white plumage, distinctive black wingtips, and a yellowish wash on its head and neck. It has a pointed, blue-grey bill with black lines and bright blue rings around its pale eyes, making it visually distinct. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Suliformes - **Family:** Sulidae - **Genus:** Morus ## Interesting facts - Gannets have special internal nostrils that seal shut during their powerful dives! - Northern Gannets often hunt in groups, signaling fish locations to each other. - Their eyes face forward, giving them amazing depth perception for hunting fish. - They possess internal air sacs under their skin, acting like airbags during dives. ## Special abilities - **High-Speed Plunge Dive:** Northern Gannet can plunge dive from over 30 meters because their strong skulls and air sacs protect them during high-speed ocean impacts. - **Underwater 'Flight':** Northern Gannet can 'fly' underwater using powerful wingbeats and webbed feet, helping them chase fish at impressive depths. - **Pinpoint Vision:** Northern Gannet has excellent binocular vision that helps them accurately target fast-moving fish from high above the ocean surface. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 87-100 cm - **Wingspan:** 165-180 cm - **Weight:** 2.3-3.6 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-30 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1 - **Incubation:** 42-46 days - **Migration Distance:** 4000 km ## Diet & Feeding These expert hunters plunge-dive into the ocean to catch fish like mackerel, herring, and sandeels. - **Primary Foods:** Atlantic Mackerel, Atlantic Herring, Sandeel, Sprat, Cod, Squid - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Atlantic Mackerel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/atlantic-mackerel) (*Scomber scombrus*) — A primary schooling fish prey for gannets. - **Hunts:** [Atlantic Herring](https://www.snappit.app/explore/atlantic-herring) (*Clupea harengus*) — Another common schooling fish targeted by gannets. - **Eaten by:** [Great Black-backed Gull](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-black-backed-gull) (*Larus marinus*) — Gulls sometimes prey on gannet eggs or young chicks. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Northern Gannet? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Northern Gannet? 87-100 cm ### What is Northern Gannet's wingspan? 165-180 cm ### How much does Northern Gannet weigh? 2.3-3.6 kg ### How long does Northern Gannet live? 15-30 years ### How fast can Northern Gannet move? 60 km/h ### What does Northern Gannet eat? These expert hunters plunge-dive into the ocean to catch fish like mackerel, herring, and sandeels. ### Where is Northern Gannet usually found? Coastal areas and open oceans ## Where to spot - [Cape Lookout Coast Guard Station](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cape-lookout-coast-guard-station) — US · Historic Site - [Zoo am Meer](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-am-meer) — Bremen, DE · Zoo - [Westküstenpark & Robbarium St. Peter-Ording](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/westkustenpark-st-peter-ording) — Schleswig-Holstein, DE · Zoo - [Sept-Îles National Nature Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sept-iles-national-nature-reserve) — Bretagne, FR · Park - [Costa de Dexo Natural Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/costa-de-dexo-natural-monument) — Galicia, ES · Park [View all places to see Northern Gannet](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/northern-gannet) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Northern Gannet: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-gannet)