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Gliding effortlessly over stormy seas, these hardy seabirds brave the harshest ocean conditions with remarkable ease.

Visual Identification

Appearance

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.

Size

Length

45cm to 50cm

Wingspan

101cm to 117cm

Weight

450g to 1000g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Grey White

Secondary Colour

Blue

Beak Colour

Yellow

Leg Colour

Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Fulmar is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Fulmar is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Fulmar is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Fulmar can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Fulmar is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Fulmar is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Fulmar is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Fulmar is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Fulmar is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Fulmar is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Fulmar is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Fulmar is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

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.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 300 meters

Climate zones

Subarctic, Temperate

Distribution Map

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:

  • Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
  • Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
  • This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

  • More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
  • How birds move around during different seasons