Northern Fulmar vs Desertas Petrel
Fulmarus glacialis compared with Pterodroma deserta
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Northern Fulmar | Desertas Petrel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Fulmarus glacialis | Pterodroma deserta |
| 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) | 50.5 cm (19.9 in) |
| Weight | 750.0 g (26.46 oz) | 315.0 g (11.11 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.
Desertas Petrel
Geographic Range & Migration
Northern Fulmar
North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Breeds from the Arctic south to Britain, France, and New England.
Desertas Petrel
Conservation Status
Northern Fulmar
Desertas Petrel
How to Tell Them Apart
Northern Fulmar
Yellowish hooked bill with prominent tubular nostrils on top
Desertas 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.
Desertas Petrel
34–36 cm. Dark above with grey rump; white belly with dusky flanks and partial breast-band. Breeds only on Deserta Grande, Madeira archipelago; Vulnerable with around 200–250 pairs. Ranges through tropical Atlantic. Threatened by introduced cats; nocturnal at colonies.