
©Chris Gomersall/2020VISION

©Peter Cairns/2020VISION
Northern gannet
Famed for its super-fast fishing dives into the sea, the northern gannet (or gannet) is a distinctive white bird with a yellow head and black wingtips. It nests in large, noisy, smelly colonies on cliffs around our coasts.
Scientific name
Morus bassanusWhen to see
January to AugustSpecies information
Statistics
Length: 87-100cmWingspan: 165-180cm
Weight: 2.4-3.6kg
Average lifespan: 17 years
Classified in the UK as Amber under the Birds of Conservation Concern 5: the Red List for Birds (2021).