gannets
White cliff nesters
Gannets are large seabirds known for their spectacular plunge-diving, folding their wings and dropping from height to catch fish.
They're white with black wingtips and have a wingspan approaching two meters.
In British slang, a gannet is a greedy person who eats voraciously: Don't be such a gannet—save some for everyone else.
Mated to one only
- matePartner or companion
- lifelongLasting entire existence
- courtshipSeeking another's romantic favor
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
rituals · greeting · display · devoted · reunion · recognition · nest-building · co-parenting
Communal bird nesting site
- BonaventureFranciscan cardinal and theologian
- cliffsideEdge of steep rock
- breedingReproductive cultivation of organisms
- nestingMaking a dwelling
congregation · aggregation · throng · multitude · assembly · cluster · cacophony · guano
Long-winged oceanic bird
- boobyFool or tropical seabird
- pelicanPouch-throated waterbird
- cormorantFish-diving seabird
- shearwaterTube-nosed pelagic bird
frigatebird · tern · guillemot · puffin · skua · petrel · murre · razorbill
Rising effortlessly upward
- glidingEngineless aerial movement
- wingspanTip-to-tip extent
- thermalsWarm air columns
- updraftsAir moving skyward
coastal · oceanic · graceful · effortless · cruising · streamlined · aerial · patrolling
At right angles groundward
- streamlinedMade smooth and efficient
- impactForceful contact or consequence
- velocityDirected rate of motion
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
descent · torpedo · spearfishing · predation · hunting · targeting · acceleration · submersion
monogamous
Mated to one only
fidelity · rituals · greeting · display · devoted · reunion · recognition · nest-building · co-parenting · loyalty
rookery
Communal bird nesting site
- BonaventureFranciscan cardinal and theologian
- cliffsideEdge of steep rock
- breedingReproductive cultivation of organisms
nesting · congregation · aggregation · throng · multitude · assembly · cluster · cacophony · guano · ledges
albatross
Long-winged oceanic bird
shearwater · frigatebird · tern · guillemot · puffin · skua · petrel · murre · razorbill · tropicbird
soaring
Rising effortlessly upward
updrafts · coastal · oceanic · graceful · effortless · cruising · streamlined · aerial · patrolling · searching
vertical
At right angles groundward
- streamlinedMade smooth and efficient
- impactForceful contact or consequence
- velocityDirected rate of motion
precision · descent · torpedo · spearfishing · predation · hunting · targeting · acceleration · submersion · depth
gannetsgulls
Scavenging coastal birds
skimmers · filter feeders · albatrosses · petrels · frigatebirds
gannetssparrows
Small common songbirds
robins · chickadees · wrens · finches · crows
gannetshummingbirds
Tiny hovering nectar feeders
warblers · picky eaters · nibblers · sparrows