Northern Fulmar vs Oriental Stork
Fulmarus glacialis compared with Ciconia boyciana
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Northern Fulmar | Oriental Stork |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Fulmarus glacialis | Ciconia boyciana |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Ciconiiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Ciconiidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Endangered |
| Length | 47.0 cm (18.5 in) | 115.0 cm (45.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 107.0 cm (42.1 in) | 220.0 cm (86.6 in) |
| Weight | 750.0 g (26.46 oz) | 5000.0 g (176.37 oz) |
| Diet | Fish, squid, crustaceans, offal from fishing vessels, and zooplankton. Feeds by surface-seizing and shallow plunge-diving. | Fish, frogs, snakes, large insects, and small mammals caught in shallow wetlands. Feeds by wading … |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 2-6 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Northern Fulmar
Open ocean and sea cliffs. Breeds on cliff ledges and grassy slopes on northern coastlines. Pelagic outside breeding season.
Oriental Stork
Wetlands, flooded rice paddies, rivers, and marshes. Nests on tall trees, utility poles, and artificial platforms.
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Oriental Stork
Essentially silent like all storks; produces loud mechanical bill-clattering at the nest as a greeting display. Chicks beg with hissing and squeaking. Rarely vocalizes otherwise.
Geographic Range & Migration
Northern Fulmar
North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Breeds from the Arctic south to Britain, France, and New England.
Oriental Stork
Breeds in the Russian Far East and northeastern China. Winters in southeastern China, Japan, and Korea.
Conservation Status
Northern Fulmar
Oriental Stork
How to Tell Them Apart
Northern Fulmar
Yellowish hooked bill with prominent tubular nostrils on top
Oriental Stork
White body plumage with black flight feathers. Red bare skin around the eye and black bill distinguish it from the white stork. Pinkish-red legs.
Long, thick, straight, black bill
About These Birds
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.
Oriental Stork
The oriental stork is one of the most endangered stork species, with fewer than 3,000 individuals remaining in the wild. It was once widespread across East Asia but declined dramatically due to wetland drainage and pesticide use. Reintroduction programs in Japan and Korea have achieved notable success.