Northern Fulmar Identification

The Four Keys to ID

• Size & Shape

  Looks superficially like a gull. A heavyset, medium-sized seabird with a short neck, stout body, large head, and long wings. The bill is stout and hooked, with two nasal tubes on the top edge.

  Relative Size

  Larger than a Ring-billed Gull, smaller than a Herring Gull.

  crow-sized

  Measurements

  • Both Sexes
  • • Length: 15.3-19.7 in (39-50 cm)
    • Weight: 15.9-35.3 oz (450-1000 g)
    • Wingspan: 39.4-44.1 in (100-112 cm)

  © Christoph Moning / Macaulay Library

• Color Pattern

  Most fulmars are "light morph": gray above and white below, a pattern similar to large gulls. Some "dark morphs" occur in the North Pacific and are pale to dark gray all over.

• Behavior

  Flies with very stiff, shallow wingbeats interspersed with glides, a style very different from gulls. Catches prey at the sea surface or makes shallow dives underwater. Often forages in large flocks, mixed with other seabird species and sometimes marine mammals.
• Habitat

  Nests in dense colonies on rocky islands and cliffs. Forages far offshore, where upwelling brings nutrients and fish toward the surface. Also collects around fishing vessels to scavenge discarded fish parts.