Northern Fulmar vs Slender-billed Prion
Fulmarus glacialis compared with Pachyptila belcheri
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Northern Fulmar | Slender-billed Prion |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Fulmarus glacialis | Pachyptila belcheri |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Procellariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 47.0 cm (18.5 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 107.0 cm (42.1 in) | 35.2 cm (13.9 in) |
| Weight | 750.0 g (26.46 oz) | 152.0 g (5.36 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
Habitat Comparison
Northern Fulmar
Open ocean and sea cliffs. Breeds on cliff ledges and grassy slopes on northern coastlines. Pelagic outside breeding season.
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.
Slender-billed Prion
Geographic Range & Migration
Northern Fulmar
North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Breeds from the Arctic south to Britain, France, and New England.
Slender-billed Prion
Conservation Status
Northern Fulmar
Slender-billed Prion
How to Tell Them Apart
Northern Fulmar
Yellowish hooked bill with prominent tubular nostrils on top
Slender-billed Prion
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.
Slender-billed Prion
25–26 cm. Slenderest-billed prion; pale blue-grey with faint M-mark and narrow dark breast-side patches. Breeds Falkland Islands, Kerguelen, Crozet. Feeds mainly on copepods by surface-seizing rather than filter-feeding. Slightly longer wings give more buoyant flight.