From Opus

Alternative name: Australian Gannet

Photo by ornitho26
Muriwai Beach, North Island, New Zealand, November 2005

Morus serrator

[edit] Identification

L. 89cm (35 in)
Wt. 2.3 kg ( 5 lb)
Ws. 6 ft (183 cm)

• Large
• Mainly black and white
• Buff-yellow head
• Black limited to flight feathers on wing
• Black central tail feathers
• Pale bluish-grey bill
• Slate grey legs and feet
• Blue-yellow lines on legs and toes

Juvenile
Photo by Nora
Williamstown, Melbourne, Australia, January 2007

[edit] Juveniles

• Spotted grey-brown above
• White below with brown streaking
• Dark bill

It takes 3-5 years to attain adult plumage.

[edit] Similar Species

The pattern in the adult tail is distinctive against similar species if seen well.

[edit] Distribution

Breeds around south-eastern Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. One of the best places to view them is at the breeding colony at Muriwai, North Island, New Zealand, where there are observation platforms and interpretive displays.

In non-breeding season spreads further west and north along Australias coast, but some birds will be found at the colony at any time of the year.

Photo by Rookery
Cape Kidnappers, New Zealand, April 2009

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

[edit] Habitat

Mostly stay in coastal waters year-round.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Feeding

Australian Gannet often dives from quite high up, plunging into the water head first, and often does so in flocks that go for schools of fish.

[edit] Flight

In direct flight, they often travel in lines with alternating glides and easy wingbeats. Often will rest on the water if not too rough.

[edit] Breeding

Breeds on small islands, but is trying to establish a mainland colony in Australia (Pizzey and Knight, 1997).

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist

• List of references

[edit] External Links

• Arthur Grosset's Birds