Northern Fulmar vs Snow Petrel
Fulmarus glacialis compared with Pagodroma nivea
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Northern Fulmar | Snow Petrel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Fulmarus glacialis | Pagodroma nivea |
| 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) | 49.5 cm (19.5 in) |
| Weight | 750.0 g (26.46 oz) | 386.0 g (13.62 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
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.
Snow Petrel
Geographic Range & Migration
Northern Fulmar
North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Breeds from the Arctic south to Britain, France, and New England.
Snow Petrel
Conservation Status
Northern Fulmar
Snow Petrel
How to Tell Them Apart
Northern Fulmar
Yellowish hooked bill with prominent tubular nostrils on top
Snow Petrel
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.
Snow Petrel
30–35 cm, wingspan 75–95 cm. Entirely snow-white plumage; black bill, eyes, and feet. Nests in rock crevices deep in Antarctica, among the southernmost breeding birds on Earth. Feeds on krill and fish under pack ice. Highly territorial at nest; secretes stomach oil as defence.