Northern Fulmar
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Fulmarus glacialis
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How to recognize it
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45–50 cm long; stocky build, short, thick yellow bill
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Light morph — white head, neck and underside, smoky-grey wings, back and tail; dark morph — dark grey or brownish, with intermediate forms common
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Glides with wings smoothly curved downward
About the species
Out over the water, the Northern Fulmar may be white-headed and white-bodied, with a grey back, wings and tail, or dark grey all over; many fall between these forms. Its thick, pale-yellow bill and bluish legs add small touches of colour, while pale inner feathers show on the upper wings in flight. It beats its wings stiffly, unlike a gull.
It covers long stretches of sea with strong wingbeats and glides close above the waves. At breeding colonies, its guttural call has a low, rough chuckle to it, and it grunts while feeding. If threatened, it can spray foul-smelling stomach oil from its mouth.
It nests in large colonies on coastal cliffs, often on grassy ledges, and ranges over the northern Atlantic and Pacific, from open water to coasts and harbors. It feeds on fish, squid, shrimp, plankton and jellyfish, and also takes carrion or refuse. Some populations stay in northern waters through winter, while others move south.
Where to find
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In northern coastal harbors during wandering movements, watch for Northern Fulmars passing over the water.
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By fishing vessels, watch for flocks gathering alongside, often among gulls, to feed.
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At coastal cliff ledges in breeding colonies, listen for low, hollow calls.
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During breeding season in coastal towns, check rooftops and building ledges for nests — nesting has also been recorded on buildings.
