Fulmarus glacialis
The Fulmar is a robust seabird with a stocky body and thick neck. Its plumage is predominantly grey above and white below, with a pale blue-grey tinge on the wings. The bird has a distinctive tube-shaped nostril on top of its yellow, hooked bill.
Females and males are virtually identical, although males may be marginally heavier than females. Juveniles resemble adults but may have slightly darker colouration on their wings and back.
In flight, fulmars are relatively easy to identify, gliding and banking close to the ocean surface with stiff, outstretched wings. From a distance, they resemble shearwaters, but up close, they can be distinguished by their wing size and flight style.
Length
45cm to 50cm
Wingspan
101cm to 117cm
Weight
450g to 1000g
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Grey White
Secondary Colour
Blue
Beak Colour
Yellow
Leg Colour
Pink
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Fulmars inhabit the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans, breeding on coastal cliffs and rocky islands. They are found in subarctic and temperate regions, with significant populations in Iceland, Norway, and the British Isles.
During non-breeding seasons, Fulmars disperse widely across open oceans. In North America, they can be observed along the coasts of Alaska and Canada, while in Europe, they're common around the UK and Ireland.
The UK’s fulmar breeding colonies are concentrated on Scotland’s Northern Isles and along its north coast. Hirta, Dun, Soay and Stacs in the St Kilda archipelago are leading breeding grounds, with further sizeable populations on Foula and Fair Isle in the Shetland Islands.
North American fulmar-spotting sites include Andrews Point (Cape Ann) and Race Point (Cape Cod), Massachusetts. Breeding colonies are naturally established in isolated regions and the best chance of seeing fulmars is when the birds feed over coastal areas.
Sea level to 300 meters
Subarctic, Temperate
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Fulmar. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you: