Northern Fulmar vs Grey-faced Petrel
Fulmarus glacialis compared with Pterodroma gouldi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Northern Fulmar | Grey-faced Petrel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Fulmarus glacialis | Pterodroma gouldi |
| 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) | 62.6 cm (24.6 in) |
| Weight | 750.0 g (26.46 oz) | 632.0 g (22.29 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.
Grey-faced Petrel
Geographic Range & Migration
Northern Fulmar
North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Breeds from the Arctic south to Britain, France, and New England.
Grey-faced Petrel
Conservation Status
Northern Fulmar
Grey-faced Petrel
How to Tell Them Apart
Northern Fulmar
Yellowish hooked bill with prominent tubular nostrils on top
Grey-faced 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.
Grey-faced Petrel
43 cm, wingspan 100–105 cm. Dark brown above with grey-brown face; paler underbody. Closely related to Kerguelen and Great-winged petrels. Breeds on rocky islands off northern New Zealand. Ranges in southwestern Pacific; feeds on squid and fish; visits colonies only at night.