Gannet

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Gannet
Northern gannets on Heligoland, a small German archipelago in the North Sea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
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Genus:
Morus

Linnaeus, 1753
Species
  • Morus bassanus
  • Morus capensis
  • Morus serrator
Synonyms

Moris

Gannets are seabirds in the genus Morus. They are related to boobies. They are large white and black with yellow heads. They have long, pointed wings and long bills. Gannets only lay one blue egg.

Gannets can dive from a height of 30 metres (98 ft), and hit the water with great speed.[1] This can carry them to a depth of 11 metres (36 ft).[2] The bird can then keep going deeper using its wings and feet. Some have been known to dive deeper than 22 metres (72 ft).[3]

References[change | change source]

  1. Gabbatiss, Josh (19 October 2016). "Seabirds' Death-Defying Dives". Hakai Magazine. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  2. "The Gannet's Dive". JW.ORG. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  3. "Northern Gannet Overview". All About Bird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Cornell University. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
Nesting gannets (Morus serrator) at the Muriwai colony in New Zealand