Northern Gannet

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Northern Gannet
Animal Diversity Web
University of Michigan
Museum of Zoology

Northern gannets are found in the cold, temperate waters of the northern Atlantic over the continental shelves. They are found as far north as the arctic and as far south as subtropical east and west Atlantic coasts.

Food Habits
Northern gannets are generalists and opportunistic in foraging, although their body size and foraging style allows them to take advantage an oil-rich source of fish prey that is abundant in the size class they take. Their size also helps them to withstand the punishing environmental conditions in the areas these fish are found. Northern gannets use mainly "plunge-diving," in which they dive from 10 to 40 meters above the water, entering at over 100 km/hr to depths of 3 to 5 meters. They can then swim to depths up to 15 meters after a dive.

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