Fauna
Bird

Australasian Gannet

Morus serrator

Also known as Australian Gannet, Tākapu

Australasian gannets are dramatic plunge-divers that spot schooling fish from 30 meters up, fold their wings into a sleek arrow, and hit the water at high speed cushioned by air sacs beneath the skin of the head and chest. They breed in dense, raucous colonies on offshore islands and coastal headlands around New Zealand and southeastern Australia, where mated pairs greet each other with ritualized bill-fencing and sky-pointing displays. After fledging, juveniles undertake solo migrations of several thousand kilometers across the Tasman Sea before returning years later in full adult plumage.

SeabirdPlunge-diverColonial
Australasian Gannet reference1 / 7
Pseudopanax at English Wikipedia / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyPilchards, Anchovies, Squid
Predators
  • Kelp Gulls
  • Sharks
  • Feral Cats
ThreatsCommercial overfishing of prey, fishing gear entanglement, marine plastics, and colony disturbance
HabitatsCoastal seas, offshore islands, and exposed rocky headlands
Life span20–30 years in the wild
Classification
  1. FamilySulidae
  2. SpeciesMorus serrator
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Sharp bills can inflict painful bites if cornered or handled; keep well back from nesting colonies.
Why it is dangerous
Adults defend their nests aggressively with a heavy, serrated bill that can puncture skin or injure eyes if approached closely.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Large white seabirds with buff-yellow heads, black wingtips, and blue-rimmed eyes, typically seen in dense coastal colonies.
What to do
Maintain at least 10 meters from nesting birds and never attempt to pick up an injured gannet without heavy gloves and eye protection.
Responsible observation
  • Colony Viewing: Watch from designated boardwalks or cliff viewpoints so brooding adults are not flushed from eggs and chicks.
  • Foraging Sightings: Scan beyond the surf line for white birds circling high and folding into vertical plunge-dives.
  • Coastal Cleanup: Remove discarded fishing line and hooks from beaches to help prevent fatal entanglement.
Related species
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