Southern Fulmar

Identification

The southern fulmar is a fairly large, bulky seabird measuring 45 to 50 cm in length with a wingspan of 110 to 120 cm. Males are slightly heavier than females, averaging around 795 g compared to 740 g. The plumage is distinctively pale silvery-grey above and white below, with a white head and pale grey crown. The most striking feature is a large white patch on the blackish wingtips, combined with a dark rear edge to the wings. The legs and feet are pale blue, while the bill is pink with a black tip. First-year birds can be distinguished by their more slender bills. In flight, the southern fulmar uses a characteristic mixture of shallow flaps and long glides, often scanning the water below with wings held stiff and broad.

Range & Habitat

The southern fulmar is endemic to the Southern Hemisphere, with breeding colonies established on numerous islands around Antarctica including the South Sandwich Islands, South Orkney Islands, South Shetland Islands, Bouvet Island, and Peter I Island, as well as along the mainland Antarctic coast. At sea during summer, the species concentrates along the outer edge of the pack ice in very cold waters between −1.5 and 0.5 °C. In winter, birds regularly migrate north to around 40°S latitude, and some venture further north into the cool Humboldt Current waters off Peru. Small numbers appear off South Africa, southern Australia, and New Zealand, while unconfirmed sightings have been reported from the west coast of North America. The species is common and widespread, with a population of at least 4 million individuals—approximately one million pairs breed on the South Sandwich Islands alone.

Behaviour & Diet

Southern fulmars breed in cliff colonies that may contain hundreds of birds, arriving in October to nest in ice-free areas. Their courtship display involves pairs sitting together while calling, waving their heads, and preening one another. A single white egg is laid in late November or early December on a sheltered ledge, crevice, or scree slope, lined with stone chips. Incubation lasts approximately 45 days, with both parents alternating in stints of 3 to 9 days. Young fledge after around 52 days, though poor weather and predation by skuas and sheathbills can cause significant mortality. Breeding success improves markedly as birds age, rising from 48% in six- to eight-year-olds to 87% in birds aged 18 to 20 years.

The southern fulmar frequently gathers in flocks, often alongside other seabird species, particularly where food concentrates. Krill and other crustaceans form the diet's most important component, supplemented by small fish such as Antarctic silverfish and various squid species. Food is typically picked from the water's surface, though the bird will occasionally dive.

Best Time & Places to See It

Southern fulmars are most reliably encountered during the breeding season from October through December in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters. Visitors to the South Sandwich Islands, South Orkney Islands, South Shetland Islands, Bouvet Island, and Peter I Island can expect to see breeding colonies on clifftop nesting sites. During winter months (May to September), birds disperse northward to around 40°S latitude and can be found in open ocean habitats. Northern-ranging individuals occasionally appear in cooler waters off Peru, South Africa, southern Australia, and New Zealand. After storms, birds may be washed up on beaches across the Southern Ocean region.

Photography Tips

The southern fulmar's pale plumage and distinctive white wing patches make it relatively straightforward to photograph against the dark Southern Ocean, particularly in the low-angle light typical of polar regions. The bird's habit of scanning the water while flying offers opportunities to capture characteristic flight behavior with wings held stiff. During breeding season, clifftop colonies provide excellent opportunities for capturing birds in their nesting habitat, though rough terrain and harsh Antarctic weather require careful planning. The bird is usually silent outside breeding season, but photographing courting pairs at the nest site may reward you with captures of their distinctive calling behavior and mutual preening displays. Early morning and late evening light will enhance the subtle silvery-grey tones of the upperparts.