Gannet, a seabird that breeds along rocky coasts. Gannets are
found in many places around the world, some species living in
cold regions, others in tropical and subtropical climates. The
northern species go south in winter. Gannets are often seen far
out at sea, and seldom come to land except during storms and to
breed. They feed on fish, which they catch by diving into the
water, sometimes from a great height; a network of air sacs
under the skin helps cushion the impact of the dive. Gannets
breed in large colonies, building nests of seaweed and grass on
rocky cliffs. There are one or two eggs, greenish-blue and
covered with a chalky substance, which hatch in about six weeks.
The northern gannet breeds in great numbers on the west coasts
of the British Isles, and on the eastern North American coast
south to Nova Scotia. It is also found in Greenland and Iceland.
It is the largest gannet, about 36 inches (90 cm) long with a
wingspread of up to 6 feet (1.8 m). It is white with black-
tipped wings. The bill is l