Spot the difference! - 03:09 am

03 Feb 2010

Here we have a Cape gannet no?


In fact no. It’s not. Can you see the differences? This is in fact an Australian gannet, Morus serrator – a rarity in these parts and therefore a rather special sight. She’s way out of her normal distribution range. She has slightly darker eyes and a much shorter throat stripe. When breeding the head will be a bit more orange as well. She also seems to have a slight nick or serration on either side of her beak - quite high up.

This is a Cape gannet, Morus capensis. Note the blue eyes and long throat stripe.

We’re presuming that this is a female because Australian gannets have slightly larger territories and the males are unlikely to cope with the vicious fights over territory that happen in the breeding season.
This one stands her ground for sure, chasing any Cape gannet away that wanders into her space.

It’s amazing – for a bird so similar, she does everything with a different accent. Her call is very different, her stance, her territory dance – all of it differs from those around her.

I’m chuffed that we found her in all these thousands of Cape gannets. It’s not the easiest of tasks. Here she is in a crowd. You can pick her out easily now that you know the difference, can’t you?

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