2013 Bonanza Bird #25: Northern Gannet

July 25, 2013 in Birdorable Bonanza 2013 with 5 comments

We're adding new birds each day until we reach our 500th Birdorable species! Today's Bonanza bird is the Northern Gannet.

The Northern Gannet is a large species of seabird found around northern waters of the Atlantic Ocean. They breed off of North America and Europe.

Northern Gannet by Amy Evenstad (your blogger)

Northern Gannets feed in a spectacular fashion. They dive into the water to catch fish. A Northern Gannet may begin its dive from over 100 feet above the water, tucking their wings back and aiming down headfirst. They may reach speeds of 60 mph before hitting the water and diving down 15 feet or more. Once caught, the prey of the Northern Gannet is always consumed underwater.

Tomorrow's new bird is a very colorful European breeder that has a special fondness for a certain family of insects.

Comments

Molly Merula on July 26, 2013 at 9:54 AM wrote:

A European Bee-Eater! : D

Jays and Kestrels on September 10, 2013 at 7:44 PM wrote:

An ovenbird!!!

Louise Warner on February 23, 2017 at 4:18 PM wrote:

bee eaters rock!

Spurwing Plover on May 8, 2022 at 7:33 AM wrote:

HERE COMES THE GANNET,HE'S FROM A ANOTHER PLANET,HE CAME TO US,RODE ON A BUS,AND HIS FISH HE CANS IT

Spurwing Plover on June 14, 2022 at 4:06 AM wrote:

The European Bee Eater just eats those European Bees

Comments with links or HTML will be deleted. Your comment will be published pending approval.

Your name (required)

Your email address (required)

Your email address will not be published

Comment (required)

I agree to receive updates and news from Birdorable

You can unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For more information on how to unsubscribe, our privacy practices, and how we are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy, please review our Privacy Policy. By clicking submit below, you consent to allow Birdorable to store and process the personal information submitted above to provide you the content requested.

Happy Valentine's Day

February 14, 2013

The parrots, parakeets, macaws, conures and cockatiels in this image flock together to make up a heart to wish you Happy Valentine's Day! The birds featured in this design are: African Grey Parrot; Alexandrine Parakeet; Barred Parakeet;

(Cute) Infographic Highlights Importance of Prairie Wetlands

July 3, 2025

We’re thrilled to see Birdorable birds featured in a fun educational infographic related to an interesting study done by researchers at the University of Saskatchewan. The infographic is part of a public outreach effort to share results from a research project studying how...

2021 Bonanza Bird #2

Introducing the Stunning Smew: A New Addition to Birdorable

November 17, 2021

Today, a striking species of duck joins Birdorable. Our second Bonanza bird of 2021 is the Smew! Smews are Old World ducks found in northern parts of Europe and Asia. These migratory ducks are easily recognized by the striking plumage of...

Meet the Locals: 5 Iconic Australian Birds You Should Know

October 13, 2025

Australia is home to some of the world’s most unusual and unforgettable birds. During October, your team Birdorable will be visiting Oz, and we're scheduling some posts about the Land Down Under while we're off exploring. From tiny fairywrens to giant Emus, the continent’s birdlife is...

Birdorable Blog