Northern Fulmar vs Salvin's Prion
Fulmarus glacialis compared with Pachyptila salvini
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Northern Fulmar | Salvin's Prion |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Fulmarus glacialis | Pachyptila salvini |
| 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) | 38.6 cm (15.2 in) |
| Weight | 750.0 g (26.46 oz) | 162.5 g (5.73 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.
Salvin's Prion
Geographic Range & Migration
Northern Fulmar
North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Breeds from the Arctic south to Britain, France, and New England.
Salvin's Prion
Conservation Status
Northern Fulmar
Salvin's Prion
How to Tell Them Apart
Northern Fulmar
Yellowish hooked bill with prominent tubular nostrils on top
Salvin's 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.
Salvin's Prion
25–28 cm, wingspan 57–63 cm. Similar to Broad-billed Prion but bill intermediate in width; blue-grey above with dark W-wing mark. Breeds Crozet and Marion islands in Indian Ocean. Feeds on crustaceans by filter-seizing at surface. Distinguished from congeners mainly by bill width.