Gannets

Gannets are seabirds comprising the genus Morus in the family Sulidae, closely related to boobies.

Gannets are large white birds with yellowish heads, black-tipped wings and long bills. Northern gannets are the largest seabirds in the North Atlantic, having a wingspan of up to two metres (6+1⁄2 feet). The other two species occur in the temperate seas around southern Africa, southern Australia, and New Zealand.

Hunting

Gannets hunt fish by diving into the sea from a height of 30 m (100 ft) and pursuing their prey underwater, and have a number of adaptations:

They have no external nostrils; they are located inside the mouth, instead.

They have air sacs in the face and chest under the skin, which act like bubble wrap, cushioning the impact with the water.

The position of their eyes is far enough forward on the face for binocular vision, allowing them to judge distances accurately.

Gannets…