One of the largest seabirds of the North Atlantic, it nests in colonies on northern sea cliffs and winters off southern coastlines.
Wingspan can reach almost 6 feet wide
Feeding behavior
It typically forages by plunging head first into water, as high as 130 feet above the surface and as deep as 72 feet. While swimming, it submerges its head to peer below the surface, then dives and swims underwater.
Migration pattern
It migrates offshore southward along the Atlantic Coast, some going around the southern end of Florida and along one Gulf Coast to Texas. Young gannets tend to winter farther south than adults. Many, especially adults, are present in winter offshore as north as New England. Young gannets and nonbreeders may remain south of breeding grounds in the summer.
Breeding
areas
Wingspan can reach almost 6 feet
One of the largest seabirds of the North Atlantic, it nests in colonies on northern sea cliffs and winters off southern coastlines.
Feeding behavior
It typically forages by plunging head first into water, as high as 130 feet above the surface, and as deep as 72 feet. While swimming, it submerges its head to peer below the surface, then dives and swims underwater.
Breeding
areas
Migration pattern
It migrates offshore southward along the Atlantic Coast, some going around the southern end of Florida and along Gulf Coast to Texas. Young gannets tend to winter farther south than adults. Many, especially adults, are present in winter far offshore as far north as New England. Young gannets and nonbreeders may remain south of breeding grounds in summer.
SOURCE: Audubon Guide to North American Birds; Cornell Lab of Ornithology
James Abundis / Globe Staff