Northern Fulmar

Fulmarus glacialis Order: PROCELLARIIFORMESFamily: Petrels and Shearwaters (Procellariidae)

Breeding Location:

Islands, sandy or rocky



Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Colonial



Breeding Population:



Egg Color:

White, nest stained with red markings



Number of Eggs:

1



Incubation Days:

52 - 53



Egg Incubator:

Both sexes



Nest Material:

Lined with pebbles.



Migration:

Migratory



Splitbar

Overview

Northern Fulmar Light Morph: Large gull-like bird with gray upperparts and white underparts, head, neck, and tail. Dark morph has uniformly dark gray body and paler primaries. Bill is short, thick, and yellow with a tube on top. Flight alternates stiff wing beats with periods of gliding and banking.

Range and Habitat

Northern Fulmar Light Morph: Breeds in Aleutians and on coasts and islands of Alaska and Canadian Arctic. Spends winters at sea, in Pacific Ocean south to California and in Atlantic south to North Carolina; also in northern Eurasia. Pelagic, only comes ashore to breed.

Breeding and Nesting

Northern Fulmar Light Morph: One red marked, white egg is laid in a slight ground depression, sometimes lined with pebbles. Incubation ranges from 52 to 53 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Northern Fulmar Light Morph: Eats fish, crustaceans, marine worms, squid, and carrion. Snatches food at or just below the water surface; eats on the water.

Readily Eats

Vocalization

Northern Fulmar: Gives chuckling and grunting notes when feeding. On breeding grounds gives a variety of guttural calls.

Similar Species

Northern Fulmar Light Morph: Gulls have more slender necks, thinner bills without nasal tubes, and deep, steady, flapping wing beats.

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Family Fulmar (Procellariidae)_blue
Species Fulmarus glacialis
Length19 Inches
Wingspan42 Inches

Northern Fulmar

Northern Fulmar Light Morph: Large gull-like bird with gray upperparts and white underparts, head, neck, and tail. Dark morph has uniformly dark gray body and paler primaries. Bill is short, thick, and yellow with a tube on top. Flight alternates stiff wing beats with periods of gliding and banking.

● Song: Generally silent

● Foraging & Feeding: Northern Fulmar Light Morph: Eats fish, crustaceans, marine worms, squid, and carrion. Snatches food at or just below the water surface; eats on the water.

● Breeding & nesting: Northern Fulmar Light Morph: One red marked, white egg is laid in a slight ground depression, sometimes lined with pebbles. Incubation ranges from 52 to 53 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Northern Fulmar Light Morph: Gulls have more slender necks, thinner bills without nasal tubes, and deep, steady, flapping wing beats.

Flight Pattern

Flap and glide flight on bowed wings with bursts of stiff wing beats alternating with periods of effortless banking and gliding.
Northern Fulmar Dark Morph Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Northern Fulmar Light Morph: Breeds in Aleutians and on coasts and islands of Alaska and Canadian Arctic. Spends winters at sea, in Pacific Ocean south to California and in Atlantic south to North Carolina; also in northern Eurasia. Pelagic, only comes ashore to breed.
BreedingMonogamous, Colonial
Population
MigrationMigratory
Weight20 - 22 Ounces