Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
Aves > Suliformes > Sulidae
Names in different Languages
| German | Basstölpel |
| English | Northern Gannet |
| French | Fou de Bassan |
| Spanish | Alcatraz común, Alcatraz atlántico |
Description
Northern Gannet is a large bird, a wingspan up to 180cm, breeding in large colonies along the northern areas of the coast to the atlantic. This species is interesting to watch, due to its spectacular diving for fishes. When diving towards the water surface, the bird can reach a speed of up to 100km/h.
How to Identify
From far away, you may see them as just another gull, white with black tips on the wing. As soon as they dive for a fish you are able to identify them clearly. Closer, the typical form of the beak and head, optimized to break into the water surface on impact, its yellowish head and blue ring around the eye allow the identification.
Where When to Spot
Along the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland Bay of Lawrence. I was lucky to watch them fishing at Flatrock Cove, north of St. John’s, NL.
Photos
Observations
| 2021-08-18 | Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park |
| 2017-08-14 | Flatrock Cave |
Last updated on 2023-01-15. Written and regularly updated by Karl-Heinz Müller, Dipl. Natw. ETH, Biology. With 10 years of experience in wildlife photography, Karl-Heinz shares first-hand, on-site collected observations, photos and videos from his frequent visits to parks in the Montreal area.