Colony of northern gannets in Quebec Aug. 25, 2025

They are easy to recognise: sleek white bodies, black wingtips and a dagger-sharp bill. Northern gannets are anything but quiet—especially when gathered by the tens of thousands on Bonaventure Island"s cliffs in Quebec. Each year, they come together to feed, breed and raise their young. These seabirds are high-speed hunters. Spotting fish from 70 metres up, they fold their wings and dive at speeds nearing 100 km/h. Air sacs in the skull protect them from the force of impact, allowing them to grab prey like herring, capelin and sand lance underwater with accuracy.

© Vladone/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Aug. 25, 2023Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
The sea pool of Penzance
Aug. 25, 2024Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Happy Mothers Day!
Nov. 26, 2025World Olive Tree Day
Dec. 7, 2023Verdon Gorge, France
Winter at Valley Forge
Dec. 19, 2023Castle Square, Old Town, Warsaw, Poland
Sep. 8, 2025International Literacy Day
Fragrant fields as far as the eye can see
Scenic Mount Michener
Apr. 16, 2024Union Square, Manhattan, New York, USA
Sep. 13, 2023Hemakuta Hill, Hampi
Sep. 24, 2024Skaftafell, Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland
May 5, 2024Kalaloch Tree of Life, Olympic National Park, Washington, US
Oct. 28, 2025The Gothic Gate in the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks, Czechia
Hot enough to howl
Apr. 13, 2025Songkran—Thai New Year
Look, but don’t touch
Dec. 24, 2024Silent night, sparkling lights and hearts full of joy
A shiver of sharks on the hunt
Aug. 31, 2025Scotts Bluff National Monument, Gering, Nebraska, United States
Jul. 20, 2025Moon Day
Feb. 8, 2024Mount Hood, Oregon
Apr. 17, 2025Andean cocks-of-the-rock, Ecuador
Her legend and mystery endure
Launching hopes and prayers
Oct. 23, 2023Corn maze in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania
The top of Tennessee
Staying in the loop
Oct. 2, 2025Oxbow Bend on the Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, United States
Sep. 2, 2023Allens Hummingbird
Nov. 1, 2025Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States