Northern Gannet
Morus bassanus
Also known as: Gannet, Solan Goose, Northern Gannett
Habitat
Aquatic
Diet
VertFishScav
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
3.0 kg
About This Species
Look for large white seabirds with black wingtips and a golden-buff head, plunge-diving from height into open water near their prey. Breeding colonies form dense, noisy cliff-top gatherings from spring through late summer, and the spectacular vertical dives are easiest to watch from headlands or boat trips on calm, clear days. Outside the breeding season they range widely offshore and are best spotted from coastal vantage points during migration.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Stay well back from cliff-edge colonies and never approach nesting ledges directly; disturbance can cause birds to flush and knock eggs or chicks from narrow ledges.
- Seabird colonies are protected under wildlife law in most range states, and approach restrictions or seasonal closures are common near breeding sites, so check local signage and guidance before visiting.
- Keep a respectful distance from rafts of birds on the water as well, since repeated disturbance can force feeding birds to abandon a valuable feeding area.
LCAvesSuliformesSulidae
Seasonal Activity
1,472,638 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Suliformes
- Family
- Sulidae
Traits
- Diet
- VertFishScav
- Foraging
- Aquatic
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 3.0 kg
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.