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Northern Gannet Identification

Northern Gannet Adult
Adult

Large heavy-bodied seabird with a daggerlike bill. Adults are mostly white with a yellowish wash on the head and neck and black flight feathers.

© John Reynolds | Macaulay LibraryLanguedoc-Roussillon, December 03, 2016
Northern Gannet Juvenile
Juvenile

Large seabird. Juveniles are brown overall with white spotting.

© John Reynolds | Macaulay LibraryLanguedoc-Roussillon, December 03, 2016
Northern Gannet Adult
Adult

Large white seabird with black wingtips. Though they spend most of their lives at sea, they often come close enough to shore to be seen when scanning with binoculars or a spotting scope.

© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryNewfoundland and Labrador, June 03, 1997
Northern Gannet Adult
Adult

Bullet-shaped seabird with long pointed wings and long tail. In flight note white body and black flight feathers.

© Dorian Anderson | Macaulay LibraryNewfoundland and Labrador, July 02, 2013
Northern Gannet Juvenile
Juvenile

Juveniles in flight are brown overall with a white patch on the tail.

© John Reynolds | Macaulay LibraryLanguedoc-Roussillon, December 03, 2016
Northern Gannet Immature
Immature

Immatures have patchy brown and white feathers. They attain adult plumage after 4–5 years. Note long pointed tail and wings.

© David Disher | Macaulay LibraryNorth Carolina, November 01, 2014
Northern Gannet Juvenile
Juvenile

Note wedge-shaped tail that is often held closed in a point. Juveniles have a dingy belly and a dark tail.

© Adrien Mauss | Macaulay LibraryNord-Pas-de-Calais, September 07, 2015
Northern Gannet Adult
Adult

Nests in colonies on cliff ledges and steep slopes.

© Angus Pritchard | Macaulay LibraryScotland, June 26, 2016
Northern Gannet Immature and adult
Immature and adult

Immature birds attain adult plumage after 4–5 years. Note daggerlike bill, narrow black mask, and pale yellow-washed head.

© Marie O'Neill | Macaulay LibraryQuebec, June 04, 2017
Northern Gannet Habitat
Habitat

Breeds in dense colonies and spends the rest of its time at sea.

© Lynden Schofield | Macaulay LibraryScotland, August 08, 2014
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Adult Description

  • Large waterbird.
  • White with black wingtips.
  • Long pointed bill.
  • Long pointed tail.
  • Long pointed wings.
  • Immatures range from all dark to mostly white.

Immature Description

Juvenile all dark, covered in white spots, and with white rump. Takes three or more years to get adult plumage; immature birds can be a mix of dark and light markings.
Relative Size

Relative Sizegoose or largergoose-sized or larger
Measurements
  • Both Sexes
    • Length: 31.9-43.3 in (81-110 cm)
    • Weight: 77.6-127.0 oz (2200-3600 g)
    • Wingspan: 68.9-70.5 in (175-179 cm)

Species in This Family

Boobies and Gannets(Order: Suliformes, Family:Sulidae)

Masked BoobyMasked Booby
Blue-footed BoobyBlue-footed Booby
Brown BoobyBrown Booby
Red-footed BoobyRed-footed Booby
Northern GannetNorthern Gannet

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