The bird thinks it a favor…

The bird thinks it a favor to give the fish a lift in the air.

A Rabindranath Tagore quotation

Identify this bird

Northern Gannet

This bird (Morus bassanus, formerly Sula bassana) is a seabird and is the largest member of the gannet family, Sulidae.

Identification Tips:
* Length: 31 inches Wingspan: 70 inches
* Sexes similar
* Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed
* Large bird that dives for fish from air
* Takes 4 years to reach adult plumage
* Largest booby

Adult
* White head, body, tail, and inner wings
* Yellowish wash on head
* Black outer wing
* Large, gray, pointed bill
* Gray legs and feet

Breeding: Their breeding range is the North Atlantic.

In the United Kingdom, these birds are a protected species. However, a legal exception is made for the inhabitants of the town of Ness (also known as Port Nis) of the Isle of Lewis who are allowed to kill up to 2,000 of them annually to serve as a traditional local delicacy. The taste is described as fishy.

The bird thinks it a favor to give the fish a lift in the air.

By Rabindranath Tagore

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