Northern Fulmar vs Cape Verde Petrel
Fulmarus glacialis compared with Pterodroma feae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Northern Fulmar | Cape Verde Petrel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Fulmarus glacialis | Pterodroma feae |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Procellariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | 47.0 cm (18.5 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 107.0 cm (42.1 in) | 51.0 cm (20.1 in) |
| Weight | 750.0 g (26.46 oz) | 303.0 g (10.69 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.
Cape Verde Petrel
Geographic Range & Migration
Northern Fulmar
North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Breeds from the Arctic south to Britain, France, and New England.
Cape Verde Petrel
Conservation Status
Northern Fulmar
Cape Verde Petrel
How to Tell Them Apart
Northern Fulmar
Yellowish hooked bill with prominent tubular nostrils on top
Cape Verde 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.
Cape Verde Petrel
33–37 cm. Grey-brown above with pale grey rump; white underparts with dark partial breast smudge. Breeds Cape Verde Islands; ranges across Atlantic Ocean. Closely related to Desertas and Zino's petrels; Vulnerable. Visits colonies only at night; feeds on squid and fish.