The RSPB: Gannet

Gannet

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Latin name

Morus bassanus

Family

Boobies and gannets (Sulidae)

Overview

Adults are large and bright white with black wingtips. They are distinctively shaped with a long neck and long pointed beak, long pointed tail, and long pointed wings. At sea they flap and then glide low over the water, often travelling in small groups. They feed by flying high and circling before plunging into the sea. It breeds in significant numbers at only a few localities and so is an Amber List species.

Where to see them

Biggest mainland breeding colony at RSPB's Bempton Cliffs. Two mainland colonies - at Bempton and Troup Head, Scotland. Big island colonies on St Kilda, the Northern Isles and Bass Rock in Scotland and Grassholm in Wales. Can be seen offshore almost anywhere, especially in when they migrate south in August and September.

When to see them

They arrive at their colonies from January onwards and leave in August and September. Non-breeding birds can be seen at any time around the coasts and the main migration period offshore is during the autumn.

What they eat

Fish

Estimated numbers

Europe	UK breeding*	UK wintering*	UK passage*
-	218,546 nests	-	-

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.

Distribution

Key

In the UK: Scottish and Welsh Islands, and Yorkshire (breeding); anywhere offshore

Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.

Find out more

Videos

Audio is from commercial recordings Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Europe on 4 CDs or Bird Sounds of Europe & North-west Africa, copyright WildSounds & CEBA (www.wildsounds.com, (UK) +44 (0) 1263 741100)