All About the Northern Gannet Bird - Gannet Species Facts & Information

The Northern Gannet is one of the largest seabirds in the UK and is arguably one of the most impressive bird species too. They are large and white with black wingtips, a yellow head, and a long bill.

Each spring, Northern Gannets cross the North Atlantic to return to their towering coastal cliff breeding colonies in the UK, where they breed and raise their young.

Gannets have special adaptations that allow them to expertly hunt fish by diving head first under water. Adaptations include having no external nostrils (they are instead in the mouth), air sacs in their face, chest, and under their skin to cushion the impact with the water, and eyes that allow them to have binocular vision and judge distances correctly.

As they strike the water, they can reach speeds of more than 60 miles per hour, which means they can catch fish at a greater depth than other seabird populations.

Conservation Status

In the UK, the breeding population of Northern Gannets is classified as Amber-listed due to their international importance: around 55% of the world's gannet population nests and breeds in the UK.

What Do Gannets Eat?

As skilled plunge divers, the Northern Gannet's diet mainly consists of fish like herring, mackerel, sand eels, and other small schooling fish. They are sometimes found scavenging discards from fishing boats.

As a species, Northern Gannets are opportunistic feeders, meaning they take advantage of whatever food sources are available.

They catch food using their characteristic fishing dive from heights of 30 to 40 metres. Often, they will be found feeding in groups, diving in sequence when fish are spotted.

Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) Habitat

In the UK, we are home to 55% of the world's population of Gannets, and they tend to inhabit the coastal areas and offshore islands, where they form large and noisy colonies.

Each year, they return to these sights for the breeding season. Outside of this season, they migrate south to West African coasts and can be found foraging for fish in open seas.

Specific locations include Bass Rock in Scotland, Bempton Cliffs in Yorkshire, and Skomer in Pembrokeshire.

Northern Gannet Breeding Season

In late February to early March, adult Northern Gannets begin to return to their traditional nesting sites, often the ones they have used in previous years.

During the early spring months, the birds spend their time nest-building and taking part in courtship rituals. This includes bill fencing and mutual preening. By May or June, each pair will lay a single egg, which is incubated using the adults' webbed feet.

After six to seven weeks, the chicks hatch, and the gannets feed the young, immature birds regurgitated fish. The young grow quickly, and by August, they are ready to fledge the nest. Their first flight is often to sea, and they don't even need any practice runs.

By October, most birds leave UK colonies to winter in the eastern North Atlantic, along the coasts of western Europe and northwest Africa.

Northern Gannets prefer to nest in dense colonies on cliffs, sea stacks, or remote islands, which protect them from predators and provide easy access to rich fishing waters. They construct their nests using grass, seaweed, and sometimes plastic debris, which can unfortunately pose risks to both adults and chicks.

Despite their large size, boasting a wingspan of nearly two meters, Gannets nest closely together, sometimes less than a meter apart, creating a noisy and dynamic breeding environment.

Threats & Predators

Northern Gannets face a range of threats, both natural and human-made. The most pressing recent concern is avian influenza (bird flu), which has caused significant mortality in some UK colonies. Other threats include marine pollution, especially plastic waste used in nests, and overfishing, which can reduce their food supply.

While adult Gannets have few natural predators due to their size and nesting locations, large Gulls may target eggs or chicks. Disturbance from human activity, such as boats or tourism near colonies, can also affect breeding success.

Five Fun Facts

1. Northern Gannets can dive from heights of up to 40 metres, hitting the water at nearly 100 km/h to catch fish.

2. They often mate for life and return to the same partner and nest each year.

3. With white plumage, black wingtips, and golden heads, gannets are among the UK’s most striking seabirds.

4. The UK hosts over 50% of the world’s breeding population of northern gannets.

5. Each pair lays just one egg per year and raises a single chick with shared parental care.