Cape Gannet (Morus capensis)
Port of East London, South Africa.
The Cape Gannet is large bird with black and white plumage and distinctive yellow crown and hindneck. The pale blue bill is pointed with fine serrations near the tip. Its beak has no external nostrils into which the water might be forced, an adaptation for the depth and speed of the gannet's dive when fishing (gannets hit the water at speeds of between 40 and 120 km/h).
The Cape Gannet is very similar to the Northern Gannet, but the latter differs from its entirely white tail and its wings, which are only black at the tip.
The Cape Gannet breeds in southern Africa in three islands off Namibia and three islands off South Africa. The non-breeding range of Cape Gannets extends from the coastal waters off the Gulf of Guinea on the west coast of Africa, to Mozambique on the east coast.
Cape Gannet (Morus capensis)
Port of East London, South Africa.
The Cape Gannet is large bird with black and white plumage and distinctive yellow crown and hindneck. The pale blue bill is pointed with fine serrations near the tip. Its beak has no external nostrils into which the water might be forced, an adaptation for the depth and speed of the gannet's dive when fishing (gannets hit the water at speeds of between 40 and 120 km/h).
The Cape Gannet is very similar to the Northern Gannet, but the latter differs from its entirely white tail and its wings, which are only black at the tip.
The Cape Gannet breeds in southern Africa in three islands off Namibia and three islands off South Africa. The non-breeding range of Cape Gannets extends from the coastal waters off the Gulf of Guinea on the west coast of Africa, to Mozambique on the east coast.