Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) Bird Information
Fulmar is a stocky, heavily-built seabird; glides and skims water with typical stiff-winged shearwater flight. Flaps wings more frequently than shearwaters. Head, neck and body white; wings, back and tail grey.
Fulmar bird has Lacks any distinctive black and white pattern on wingtips. Short yellow bill; tube-nose visible at close quarters. Thick ‘bull-neck’ quite unlike any similar species; particularly noticeable in flight. Often gathers in large numbers round trawlers; decidedly gregarious at cliff breeding colonies.
Status: breeds along almost all coasts where suitable cliffs occur. In winter, widespread throughout Atlantic and the North Sea.
Similar Species: easily confused with gulls, especially when perched on cliffs. Only grey, stiff-winged species at sea.
Bird Facts
Type | gull-like |
Size | 40 – 44 cm (20 – 17 in) |
Habitat | sea and sea -cliffs |
Behaviour | swims, perches on rocks, takes off and lands on water or cliffs |
Flocking | colonial; sometimes huge flocks |
Flight | strong and powerful; gliding |
Voice | harsh crackle at breeding colonies |
Fulmar Bird Identification
Adult | |
Crown | white |
Upperparts | grey |
Rump | grey; |
Tail | grey; short and square |
Throat | white |
Breast | white |
Belly | white |
Bill | yellow; short, tube-nosed |
Legs | yellow; short |
Fulmar Bird Breeding
Nest | bare ledge |
Eggs | 1; white |
Incubation | 55 – 57 days |
Young | helpless; downy |
Fledging | 46 – 51 days |
Broods | 1; May – September |
Food | crustaceans, fish |
Population | 600,000 pairs |
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