Photo: Hobbyfotowiki / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Northern Gannet
Morus bassanus
Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) is a member of the Sulidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 3 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Suliformes
- Family Sulidae Gannets, Boobies
- Genus Morus
- Species bassanus
Where it lives
Islands off subarctic, northern temperate coasts of North Atlantic Ocean: Iceland, Faroe Is., British Isles, northwestern France and northern Norway (eastern North Atlantic); Gulf of St. Lawrence and Atlantic coast of Newfoundland (southeastern Canada, western North Atlantic)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 3 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Sulidae
- Order
- Suliformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Northern Gannet hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Northern Gannet is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) belongs to the Sulidae family of the order Suliformes. It occurs naturally across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers AO islands off subarctic, n temperate coasts of North Atlantic Ocean: Iceland, Faroe Is., British Isles, nw France and n Norway (e North Atlantic); Gulf of St. Lawrence and Atlantic coast of Newfoundland (se Canada, w North Atlantic).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 3 kg, with a wing length of about 48.6 cm and a tail of around 20.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 18.3 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Northern Gannet?
The Northern Gannet is a very large bird that weighs around 3 kg.
Where does the Northern Gannet live?
The Northern Gannet is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering AO islands off subarctic, n temperate coasts of North Atlantic Ocean: Iceland, Faroe Is., British Isles, nw France and n Norway (e North Atlantic); Gulf of St. Lawrence and Atlantic coast of Newfoundland (se Canada, w North Atlantic), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Northern Gannet belong to?
The Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) belongs to the Sulidae family, in the order Suliformes.
What does the Northern Gannet eat?
The Northern Gannet hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Northern Gannet migrate?
The Northern Gannet is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Northern Gannet endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Northern Gannet make?
1 real field recording of the Northern Gannet — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Northern Gannet's range?
The Northern Gannet has a mapped global range of about 18.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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