Juvenile Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus)

            An adult northern gannet has a 170–180 cm (67–71 in) wingspan, and is 87–100 cm (34+1⁄2–39+1⁄2 in) long and weighs 2.3–3.6 kg (5–8 lb), making it the largest gannet and the largest seabird native to the western Palearctic. 

The two sexes are generally of a similar size and appearance.

The plumage is white with dark brown to black wing tips; the primary flight feathers, primary coverts and alulae are dark. The head and neck are tinged buff-yellow, becoming much more prominent in the breeding season.

 Males are more deeply coloured than females. The eyes are surrounded by black bare skin and have a cobalt blue orbital ring, the iris is light blue-grey with a fine dark outer ring. The beak is long, strong and conical with a slight downcurve at the end and a sharp cutting edge. In adults, the beak is blue-grey with dark grey or black edges. 

There is a black groove running the length of the mandible that merges into the skin around the eyes. A black band of bare skin also separates the pale feathers of the forehead and throat from the bill, which gives the gannet its distinctive face markings. 

The four-toed feet are joined by a membrane that can vary in colour from dark grey to dark brown. There are coloured lines running along the toes that continue along up the legs. These are typically greenish-yellow in males and bluish in females and probably have a role in mating.

Fledglings are dark grey to slate-grey with upperparts and wings finely speckled with white. There is a prominent V-shaped white area under the rump. The wing tips and tail are dark brown-black, partly tipped with white. 

The bill and iris are dark brown. They can weigh more than 4 kg (9 lb) by the time they leave the nest at about 10 weeks of age. In the second year, the bird's appearance changes depending on the different phases of moulting: they can have adult plumage at the front and continue to be brown at the rear. Gannets gradually acquire more white in subsequent seasons until they reach maturity after five years.

This image was taken from the Sky Princess as it left the English Channel on its voyage to Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Taken in: (show map)

Taken on: September 24, 2023

Tags:

_X4A8770-1

Northern Gannets

Atlantic Ocean

Atlantic « less

Sets appears in: • 2023 - 9 - Sky Princess - USA and Canada • Birds more » • Wildlife « less

Groups appears in: • Birds • canon photography more » • Bird Lovers • Canon L and DO Lenses • Canon EOS • Flickr Nature • Birds , Birds Birds • wildlife photographers • Bird Fanatics! (No Limits) • 1-2-3 Nature • Unlimited Birds • Bird Images • BIRDPIX (3/day) • canon digital photography. • *I Love Birds* • "Bird Brained" • BiRDS are Beautiful • Anything Nature • ***The Wildlife Photography • Birds From Around The World • we love wildlife • Bird and Nature Photography • TMI: your ART & NATURE **NO PEOPLE OR MAN-MADE OBJECTS** P1♥C1 • The Beauty of Nature • Secret Life of Birds • Birds (no rules) • Birds In Flight • Millions of Birds • birds from all over the world • Birds Photos - Check out the new discussions! • All birds all the time • Birding In The Wild • Birds - Sea, Shore, Water and Wader • Birds & Animals Group • The Birds Of Flickr • Birdshare • National Geographic Wild Life • Birds and Wildlife Only!!! • Birds In Flight Photography • Photographing Birds • Nature's Wonder • Nature of the World Unlimited (9000+ Invite your friends!) • Canon Digital Photographers (Nature & Wildlife) • Gannets • Birds,Mammals and Nature Group • 4 Birds only • !!!* FLORA AND FAUNA ONLY *P1/C1* (NO PEOPLE) • :: | Bird Photography |:: • Wild Bird Photography • The Canon User Group (Post 1, Award 2) • MAD about BIRDS! • Amateur Wildlife and Nature • Birds in flight only!!! • Flickr Birds • Any kind of wildlife/nature • Birds & More Birds • All Wildlife Photography • Birding With A Canon • Canon EOS Cameras. • Birds and Animals Photography • Nature and all that is beautiful • "Wildlife Photography" • Nature and Animals (Wild Only) • We Love Wildlife And Nature Photography • Beloved Birds • Porfolio Nature • Worldwide Birds (opted out 30/60). • Canon RF lenses • Canon EOS RF • Nature in Flight • Canon EOS 5D MKIV Wildlife Photography. • Yes a Canon Can • wildlife and the wild • Canon EOS R5 • Canon EOS R5 Photo • Canon EOS R5 User • Canon R5 • Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM • Canon EOS R5 Users • Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM • Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM • Canon EOS R5 Official • Canon EOS R5 - Nature photos • Canon EOS R5 - Bird photos « less

Camera: Canon EOS R5, f/7.1, 1/3200 sec, 500mm, ISO 800 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS R5
Lens:	RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Aperture:	f/7.1
Exposure Time:	1/3200 sec
Focal Length:	500mm
ISO:	800
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Shutter speed priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 12.3 (Windows)
Show full info

Stats: 1,536 views / 9 comments

go back

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: