Gannets (Family Sulidae)

The Gannets are a small family, comprising two groups of oceanic birds: the gannets themselves which breed in temperate waters and the boobies, which occur in the tropics. All breed colonially and feed on fish, which they dive for. Consequently, they have a streamlined, torpedo-shaped body with a stout dagger-like bill.

Only one species occurs in Britain, the Northern Gannet, which breeds in about a score of colonies scattered around the coast.