Northern Fulmar vs Magellanic Diving-petrel
Fulmarus glacialis compared with Pelecanoides magellani
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Northern Fulmar | Magellanic Diving-petrel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Fulmarus glacialis | Pelecanoides magellani |
| 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) | 25.1 cm (9.9 in) |
| Weight | 750.0 g (26.46 oz) | 149.25 g (5.26 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.
Magellanic Diving-petrel
Geographic Range & Migration
Northern Fulmar
North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Breeds from the Arctic south to Britain, France, and New England.
Magellanic Diving-petrel
Conservation Status
Northern Fulmar
Magellanic Diving-petrel
How to Tell Them Apart
Northern Fulmar
Yellowish hooked bill with prominent tubular nostrils on top
Magellanic Diving-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.
Magellanic Diving-petrel
20–24 cm. Dark above, white below; narrow white tips to secondary feathers. Breeds southern Chile and Argentina (Strait of Magellan and Falklands). Year-round resident in coastal cold waters. Feeds on fish and crustaceans by pursuit-diving; nests in burrows on coastal islands.