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Story: Gannets and boobies

Juvenile gannet

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Juvenile gannet

Quite unlike adult gannets in appearance, juveniles are covered in dark brown and white-specked feathers. It takes between two and five years for the young to gain full adult plumage. During this time the skin around the eyes becomes bright blue and the beak changes from brown to steely blue.

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Department of Conservation

Reference: 10043579

by F. C. Kinsky

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How to cite this page

Maggy Wassilieff, Gannets and boobies – Gannets: description and habitat, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/5821/juvenile-gannet (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 2 March 2009.