General Description

Body white with head yellow-brown (buff). Wings white with tips and trailing edge brown-black. Short, narrow black stripe along throat. Young birds have upperparts mottled dark-brown with many white spots, and underparts white. Body up to 90 cm long.

Biology

These gannets breed in Port Phillip between July and February. They dive underwater to catch fish by rapidly plunging down from several metres above the surface.

Habitat

Coastline and large coastal bays.

Coastal shores

Distribution guide

New Zealand and southern Australia.

Species Group

Birds › Gannets

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)

Water Column

Above surface

Max Size

90 cm

Diet

Carnivore

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Conservation Status

• DSE Advisory List : Not listed
• EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
• IUCN Red List : Least Concern