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Northern Fulmar
last update: Feb 24, 2009 10:54 PM
Latin name: Fulmarus glacialis
Longevity: long-lived with a lifespan of 40 years not uncommon
Population: estimated to exceed 20 million individuals
Cites Classified: Least Concern
Where found: A gull-like relative of albatrosses and shearwaters, the Northern Fulmar is a bird of the northern oceans. It breeds in a few dozen scattered locations off Alaska and Canada, but is more abundant and widespread elsewhere in the northern hemisphere, especially in the northeast Atlantic.
Wingspan: 100-112 cm
Length: 39-50 cm
Weight: 450-1000 g
Mating/Breeding: Fulmars nest on high cliffs or ledges on ocean coasts. Their nest is a shallow depression with a few blades of grass or plant stems; often a shallow soil layer is all that separates the eggs from the icy cliff surface. They lay a single, white egg, and both sexes incubate it for about eight weeks. Young are downy when they are born, and leave the nest about seven weeks after they hatch.
Eggs: white, 1 egg laid per clutch
Hibernation: Winters at sea widely across the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
Hunting Habits: Takes food while swimming or plunging at surface of water.
Feed on: Fish, squid, zooplankton, offal from fishing and whaling vessels, and other animal matter found at sea.
Predators/Threats: Arctic fulmars face threats from harvest, bycatch in fisheries, and fouling in oil spills while the birds are in their winter range (the North Atlantic). However, during breeding, migration, and overwintering, they may also experience stress from ecotourism, contaminants, particulate garbage, and climate change.
Colour/body: medium-sized seabird, shaped like a gull; moderately long, rounded wings, short, stout, pale bill; short rounded tail; small dark patch in front of eye; morphs vary from white to dark grey. Like other petrels, their walking ability is limited, but they are strong fliers, with a stiff wing action quite unlike the gulls.
Interesting Trivia:
- The Northern Fulmar begins breeding at an exceptionally old age. Most do not breed until they are at least 8 to 10 years old; one study found an individual that started breeding at age 20.
- The Northern Fulmar is well known among commercial fishermen for its avid scavenging of offal thrown from whaling and fishing boats.
- The Northern Fulmar can dive to a depth of at least 3 meters (10 feet).
- When disturbed, fulmars vomit a smelly, oily substance.
