Cory's Shearwater vs Northern Fulmar
Calonectris borealis compared with Fulmarus glacialis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Cory's Shearwater | Northern Fulmar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calonectris borealis | Fulmarus glacialis |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Procellariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 47.0 cm (18.5 in) |
| Wingspan | 69.4 cm (27.3 in) | 107.0 cm (42.1 in) |
| Weight | 787.5 g (27.78 oz) | 750.0 g (26.46 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Fish, squid, crustaceans, offal from fishing vessels, and zooplankton. Feeds by surface-seizing and shallow plunge-diving. |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Cory's Shearwater
Northern Fulmar
A nasal, cackling 'kak-kak-kak-kak' or grunting 'uh-uh-uh' at the nest and colony. Less melodic than petrels. In flight gives occasional single nasal calls.
Geographic Range & Migration
Cory's Shearwater
Northern Fulmar
North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Breeds from the Arctic south to Britain, France, and New England.
Conservation Status
Cory's Shearwater
Northern Fulmar
How to Tell Them Apart
Cory's Shearwater
Northern Fulmar
Yellowish hooked bill with prominent tubular nostrils on top
About These Birds
Cory's Shearwater
46–56 cm, wingspan 112–126 cm. Large shearwater; greyish-brown above with yellowish bill; white below with pale underwing. Breeds Macaronesia (Azores, Canaries, Madeira). Migrates across Atlantic to South Atlantic wintering grounds. Feeds on fish and squid; follows fishing vessels.
Northern Fulmar
The northern fulmar is a long-lived seabird that can survive over 40 years. It defends its nest by projectile-vomiting a foul-smelling stomach oil at intruders, which can mat the feathers of predators and cause fatal loss of waterproofing. Fulmars have expanded their breeding range dramatically southward over the past two centuries.