Northern Fulmar vs Spectacled Petrel
Fulmarus glacialis compared with Procellaria conspicillata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Northern Fulmar | Spectacled Petrel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Fulmarus glacialis | Procellaria conspicillata |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Procellariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | 47.0 cm (18.5 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 107.0 cm (42.1 in) | 71.0 cm (28.0 in) |
| Weight | 750.0 g (26.46 oz) | 1162.5 g (41.01 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.
Spectacled Petrel
Geographic Range & Migration
Northern Fulmar
North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Breeds from the Arctic south to Britain, France, and New England.
Spectacled Petrel
Conservation Status
Northern Fulmar
Spectacled Petrel
How to Tell Them Apart
Northern Fulmar
Yellowish hooked bill with prominent tubular nostrils on top
Spectacled 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.
Spectacled Petrel
58 cm. Large, sooty-black petrel; ivory bill with dark markings; diagnostic white spectacle marks around eye. Breeds only Inaccessible Island (Tristan da Cunha). Vulnerable; entire breeding population on a single isolated island; at risk from longline fisheries and storms.