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Northern Gannet
Morus bassanus
Audubon Illustration
John James Audubon, Birds of America (1827-1838). Public domain.
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About the Northern Gannet
The northern gannet (Morus bassanus) is a seabird, the largest species of the gannet family, Sulidae. It is native to the coasts of the North Atlantic Ocean, breeding in Western Europe and Northeastern North America. It is the largest seabird in the northern Atlantic. The sexes are similar in appearance. The adult northern gannet has a mainly white streamlined body with a long neck, and long and slender wings. It is 87–100 cm (34+1⁄2–39+1⁄2 in) long with a 170–180 cm (67–71 in) wingspan. The head and nape have a buff tinge that is more prominent in breeding season, and the wings are edged with dark brown-black feathers. The long, pointed bill is blue-grey, contrasting with black, bare skin around the mouth and eyes.
Source: Wikipedia
Classification
- Scientific name
- Morus bassanus
- Family
- Boobies and Gannets
- Order
- Suliformes
Similar species
Other members of the boobies and gannets family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.
Know when the Northern Gannet turns up near you
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Optics
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