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Story: Gannets and boobies

Gannet chicks

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Gannet chicks

Gannets look rather unattractive when they start life. They hatch out naked and blind and take about four weeks to acquire a full cover of fluffy white feathers. This three-week-old chick still has a bare head and throat.

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Department of Conservation

Reference: 10049385

by Chris Rudge

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How to cite this page

Maggy Wassilieff, Gannets and boobies – Gannets: life history and feeding, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/5829/gannet-chicks (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 2 March 2009.