The Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus, formerly Sula bassana) is a large seabird of the gannet family, Sulidae.

Young birds are dark brown in their first year, and gradually acquire more white in subsequent seasons until they reach maturity after five years.

Adults are 87-100 cm long and have a 165-180 cm wingspan. Their plumage is white with black wing tips. The bill is light bluish. The eye is light blue, and it is surrounded by bare, black skin. During breeding, the head and neck are brushed in a delicate yellow.

Northern gannets circling above the Bass Rock, in the Firth of Forth, Scotland

Gannet pairs may remain together over several seasons. They perform elaborate greeting rituals at the nest, stretching their bills and necks skywards and gently tapping bills together.

They are migratory and most winter at sea, heading further south in the Atlantic.

These birds are spectacular divers, plunging into the ocean at high speed. They mainly eat small fish which gather in groups near the surface. Although they are powerful and agile fliers, they are clumsy in takeoffs and landings.

Although Northern Gannet populations are now stable, their numbers were once greatly reduced due to loss of habitat, removal of eggs and killing of adults.

Old names for the Northern Gannet include solan, solan goose and solant bird.

Isle of Lewis

In the United Kingdom, gannets are a protected species. However, a legal exception is made for the inhabitants of the town of Ness (also known as Port Nis) of the Isle of Lewis who are allowed to kill up to 2,000 gannets (locally known as guga) annually to serve as a traditional local delicacy - the taste is described as fishy.^[1][2]

Many of these gannets are taken from Sula Sgeir which is itself named after them.

Photo gallery

References

• Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

External links

• BTO BirdFacts - Northern Gannet
• Northern Gannet videos on the Internet Bird Collection
• Northern Gannet Photographs South Dakota Birds and Birding
• Stamps
• Northern Gannet photo gallery VIREO
• Northern Gannets Pictures

br:Morskoul bg:??? ?????? cs:Terej bílý cy:Hugan da:Sule de:Basstölpel es:Morus bassanus eo:Norda sulo fr:Fou de Bassan gl:Mascato is:Súla (fugl) it:Morus bassanus he:???? ?????? lt:?iaurinis pad?k?lis hu:Szula (madár) nl:Jan-van-gent ja:??????? no:Havsule nn:Havsule pl:G?uptak pt:Ganso-patola sk:Sula biela fi:Suula sv:Havssula tr:Sümsük ku?u uk:??????