The Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator) are found throughout and over inshore waters in the eastern, southern and south-western Australia, as well as New Zealand.
Both the male and female Australasian Gannet are similar in plumage. They are a large black and white seabird (the body is white, with dark tips on the major wing feathers and the inner tail feathers). The head is buff yellow-wash and the heavy pointed bill is a pale blue-grey with striking black borders to the bill sheaths.
Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator) Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator) Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator) Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator)
Breeding in noisy colonies, they are usually found on islands or artificial structures, such as beacons, although there are a couple of mainland coloneis.
They forage in spectacular fashion, by plunge-diving into the ocean from great heights to capture the prey.
Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator) Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator) Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator) Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator) Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator) Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator) Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator) Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator) Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator) Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator) Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator) Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator) Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator)
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Suliformes
- Family: Sulidae
- Genus: Morus
- Species:
- Morus bassanus
- Morus capensis
- Morus serrator
Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator)
Images © Dorothy L