Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 31.9–43.3 in
81–110 cm - Wingspan
- 68.9–70.5 in
175–179 cm - Weight
- 77.6–127 oz
2200–3600 g
Other Names
- Gannet
- Fou de Bassan (French)
- Bobo norteño (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- Most plunge-dives are relatively shallow, but the Northern Gannet can dive as deep as 22 meters (72 feet). It uses its wings and feet to swim deeper in pursuit of fish.
- In North America, the Northern Gannet breeds in only six well established colonies: three in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Quebec, and three in the North Atlantic off the coast of Newfoundland. In the eastern North Atlantic, it is distributed in 32 colonies from the coast of Brittany in France northward to Norway.
Habitat
Ocean
Nests on offshore islands and inaccessible cliffs. Forages offshore. Winters at sea.
Food
Fish
Fish and squid.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 1 eggs
- Egg Description
- Pale blue or greenish.
- Condition at Hatching
- Helpless with little down.
Nest Description
Large, compacted pile of mud, seaweed, grass, flotsam, and feathers cemented together with excreta. Nests in colonies.
Nest Placement
Cliff
Behavior
Aerial Dive
Plunge-dives from various heights up to 10-40 meters (33-130 feet). Thrusts wings straight out over back, touching in the middle, just before breaking the water surface.
Conservation
Least Concern
Populations increasing.