Northern Fulmar

Identification

The northern fulmar is a robust seabird with a wingspan of 102–112 cm and length of 46 cm, weighing 450–1,000 g. At first glance, they may resemble gulls, but fulmars are members of the petrel and shearwater family. They are readily distinguished by their stiff, powerful wing action and bull-necked appearance. The bill is distinctive: pale yellow and notably thick, with bluish legs. Most characteristic are the naricorns—tubelike nasal passages atop the upper bill—which connect to salt glands that help desalinate their bodies.

Fulmars exhibit two primary colour morphs. The light morph displays a white head and body with grey wings and tail, while the dark morph appears uniformly grey. Intermediate plumages are common, particularly in the Pacific. All morphs share pale inner primaries on the upper wings. In the Pacific Ocean population, the tail is contrastingly darker than in Atlantic birds, providing a useful identification feature for regional populations.

Range & Habitat

The northern fulmar is an abundant seabird of subarctic waters in the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Three subspecies occupy distinct regions: the high-arctic glacialis subspecies of the North Atlantic (mostly dark morph); the auduboni subspecies of the low-arctic, boreal, and temperate North Atlantic from Newfoundland to Brittany (predominantly light morph); and the rodgersii subspecies of the North Pacific from eastern Siberia and Alaska to British Columbia, with very small numbers south to Triangle Island. A single confirmed sighting has been recorded in the Southern Hemisphere near New Zealand.

Subspecies show different wintering ranges reflecting their breeding latitudes. High-arctic populations remain at high latitudes in winter, occasionally reaching Great Britain, while temperate Atlantic birds winter south to Delaware and Portugal. Pacific birds range south to Japan and Baja California. These birds are ocean-dwelling and spend most of their lives at sea, returning to land only to breed.

Behaviour & Diet

Northern fulmars are powerful, long-distance fliers with a distinctive stiff wing action that sets them apart from gulls. They are monogamous and long-lived, forming lasting pair bonds and returning to the same nest site year after year. Lifespans of 31 years are not uncommon, with exceptional records exceeding 50 years. They feed on shrimps, fish, squid, plankton, jellyfish, carrion, and refuse, diving to depths of 4 metres to retrieve prey. Like other petrels, their walking ability is limited, but they are supremely adapted to marine life.

Breeding begins in May, with birds starting to breed between six and twelve years old. During breeding season, adults typically remain within 500 km of their colonies rather than ranging thousands of kilometres as they do outside breeding. They nest in large colonies on grassy ledges or ground scrapes lined with vegetation. A single white egg is incubated for 50–54 days by both parents. The altricial chick is brooded for two weeks and fledges after 70–75 days. Fulmars famously produce a foul-smelling stomach oil composed of wax esters and triglycerides, which they can spray as a defence and as a nutrient-rich food source for chicks and themselves during long flights.

Best Time & Places to See It

Northern fulmars are abundant and offer excellent opportunities for viewing during breeding season from May onwards. High-arctic populations can be encountered in the far north year-round, though they occasionally venture south in winter to regions like Great Britain. Atlantic birds breeding from Newfoundland to Brittany disperse widely in winter, with some reaching Delaware and Portugal. In the Pacific, breeding birds range from Siberia to British Columbia, moving south to Japan and Baja California outside the breeding season.

The breeding season (May through late summer) provides the best viewing opportunities, when birds gather in large, noisy colonies on cliff ledges and coastal formations. Recently, populations have begun nesting on rooftops and buildings, making some colonies more accessible to observers. Their long lifespan and faithful return to nest sites ensure stable, predictable colonies year after year.

Photography Tips

The northern fulmar's distinctive pale yellow bill, bluish legs, and characteristic bull-necked silhouette offer excellent subjects for identification photography. Capture the stiff wing action in flight—their powerful, almost mechanical wing beats are quite unlike gulls and worth documenting. When photographing at colonies, light morphs with white bodies and grey wings provide strong contrast, while dark morphs present different compositional challenges against grey seas and cloudy skies.

The tubelike naricorns atop the bill are a diagnostic feature worth highlighting in close-up images. During breeding season, document the birds at nest ledges and on the ground to show their typical nesting behaviour. Capture interactions between monogamous pairs, and if possible, the chicks during the 70–75 day fledging period. Patience at stable colonies will reward photographers with behavioural images, particularly during the birds' defensive displays when threatened.