Family: Sulidae, Boobies and Gannets view all from this family

Description 35-40" (89-102 cm). Adult white with black wing tips; head tinged with orange-buff. Long pointed tail and wings. Immature dark gray, variously speckled and patterned with white, depending on age. Alternately flaps and glides in flight; plunge dives when feeding. The gleaming white of the adult is visible at great distances.

Habitat Open seas. Nests on northern rocky sea cliffs.

Nesting 1 bluish-white egg that soon changes to brown, in a shallow nest of dried seaweed high on a precipitous cliff or along the top of a bluff. Nests in colonies, with nests close together.

Range Breeds on a few isolated islands off Newfoundland, in Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and off Nova Scotia. Winters in coastal waters south to Florida and occasionally to Texas; also on northwest coast of Europe.

Voice   Guttural croak or grunt, heard only on breeding islands.

Discussion The only northern member of the booby family, the Northern Gannet is one of the most spectacular sea birds. During migrations gannets may be observed offshore, either gliding above the water or diving into the sea after fish, sometimes plunging headlong from heights as great as 50 feet (15 meters) or more. An intricate system of air sacs under the skin of the breast cushions the impact when a bird strikes the water. Gannets, like boobies, engage in an elaborate series of breeding displays. When one bird returns to a nest site, it is greeted by its mate. Both birds raise their heads and cross bills, which they clash together like swords, then bow to each other with wings and tails raised. This is followed by mutual preening of the head and neck. Usually the bird who has been relieved at the nest will pick up sticks or seaweed to present to its mate. Finally, the departing bird stands with head and neck extended straight up and wings raised over the back, then launches itself into the air.