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Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator) Alternate name(s): "Takupu", "Australian Gannet", "Diver*" Aboriginal name(s): "pakuRum" [tjapwurrung] Size: 85-90 cm; wing span 1.7-1.9 m Body mass: 2.0-2.8 kg Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.45-0.55

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Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Australasian Gannets are big seabirds with a predominantly white plumage. The upper side of the back of the wing is black from the alula inwards to the tertiaries, on the underwing the entire trailing edge has a broad black edge. The cap is yellow, the whiteish eyes are surrounded by a small black eye patch. The outer tail feathers are also black, while the legs, feet and bill are light-grey. Juveniles have a mottled plumage in various hues of grey, with a white belly. In immature birds the mottled grey plumage gradually turns black-and-white. Twitcher's tip Seen from a distance, cruising Australasian Gannets, with their wings stretched out, look like black and white rectangular crosses.

Taxonomy, classification See Australasian Gannet at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Australasian Gannet is available HERE . The range of the Australasian Gannet extends from the Australian South and East coast to New Zealand. Australasian Gannets populate coastal waters around the southern half of the Australian continent, from about Exmouth, WA, around the South coast including the Great Bight, all around Tasmania and up the East coast as far as about Yeppoon, QLD. They are most common along the Bass Strait and the Tasmanian East coast and are not found inland. Australasian Gannets are found only in marine habitats, i.e. on the open oceans, never in fresh water. They are most easily spotted when hunting in shallow waters just off the coastline. They nest on offshore islands. Where to look? How to find this species? Australasian Gannets can usually be found most easily by checking the sky just beyond the edge of coastal waters. They will be "patrolling" for fish in water close to shore, facing into the wind. Their diving technique is Special. If you see a black-and-white bird diving into the sea around the Australian coastline from a height of about 50 m at break-neck speed, it is bound to be an Australasian Gannet.

Sightings Click here for sighting information We first sighted Australasian Gannets hunting off the NSW Central Coast, between Myall Lakes NP and Bouddi NP. In particular, they were observed off Wybung Head at Munmorah SCA, near Budgewoi, NSW, from June 2011 onwards. More sightings followed since then in various locations along the NSW coast. J. Greaves reports spotting an Australasian Gannet above Flinders Bay, Augusta, WA, in May 2015. M. Eaton reports finding an Australasian Gannet on the Gold Coast, QLD, in May 2018. Another was found off the coast of Hervey Bay, QLD, in August 2025. R. Plumtree reports spotting an Australasian Gannet off the Queenscliff ferry, near Sorrento, VIC, in September 2019. D. Dyer encountered an Australasian Gannet 10 km off Cervantes, WA, in March 2021. M. Eaton reports finding an Australasian Gannet on a pelagic off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, in September 2021. C. Pears found Australasian Gannets a few km off Adventure Bay, Bruny Island, TAS, in January 2023.

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Lateral view of an adult Australasian Gannet (photo courtesy of D. Dyer)
[10 km off Cervantes, WA, March 2021]

Near-frontal view of an Australasian Gannet in flight (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Flinders Bay, Augusta, WA, May 2015]

Near-lateral view of an adult Australasian Gannet in flight (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Flinders Bay, Augusta, WA, May 2015]

Lateral view of an Australasian Gannet in flight, wings down
[Munmorah SCA, NSW, July 2025]

Lateral view from above onto an Australasian Gannet in flight with flat wings, providing a clear view of the upperwing pattern; note the creamy colour of the head
[Munmorah SCA, NSW, June 2011]

Lateral view from above onto an Australasian Gannet in flight, wings down
[Munmorah SCA, NSW, June 2011]

Near-dorsal view of an Australasian Gannet in low flight (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Queenscliff ferry, near Sorrento, VIC, September 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Australasian Gannet (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Hervey Bay, QLD, August 2025]

Lateral view of a juvenile Australasian Gannet; note the streaked head and neck and spotted upperwings
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gold Coast, QLD, May 2018]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Australasian Gannet (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gold Coast, QLD, May 2018]

Frontal view of a juvenile Australasian Gannet at take-off (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Hervey Bay, QLD, August 2025]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Australasian Gannet touching down on water (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Hervey Bay, QLD, August 2025]

View of the upperwing plumage of a juvenile Australasian Gannet
[Munmorah SCA, NSW, June 2009]

Crossing paths: juvenile Australasian Gannet (top) and Crested Tern in non-breeding plumage (bottom)
[Munmorah SCA, NSW, June 2009]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Nomadic/dispersive

Elementary unit: Solitary

While Australasian Gannets breed in colonies, each pair is territorial, defending their nest. Outside the breeding season, they may be found in loose groups, hunting close to each other, but not as a coordinated pack.

Australasian Gannets have an audacious hunting style, patrolling above sea water at about 10-20 m altitude before diving headlong at high speed into the water, often to great depth, to catch fish.

Australasian Gannet nose-diving into the sea; one can see clearly that the outer tail feathers are white, while the inner ones are black
[Munmorah SCA, NSW, June 2009]

Splash and trail of bubbles where an Australasian Gannet is diving; this species can dive up to several metres deep
[Munmorah SCA, NSW, June 2009]

Food, Diet

Australasian Gannets feed on fish, which they catch by nose-diving from a height of tens of metres, grabbing fish with their bills up to several metres under the water's surface (see above). They are known to hunt in packs, especially when attacking shoals of fish.

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