Northern Fulmar vs White-headed Petrel
Fulmarus glacialis compared with Pterodroma lessonii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Northern Fulmar | White-headed Petrel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Fulmarus glacialis | Pterodroma lessonii |
| 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) | 60.7 cm (23.9 in) |
| Weight | 750.0 g (26.46 oz) | 695.0 g (24.52 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.
White-headed Petrel
Geographic Range & Migration
Northern Fulmar
North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Breeds from the Arctic south to Britain, France, and New England.
White-headed Petrel
Conservation Status
Northern Fulmar
White-headed Petrel
How to Tell Them Apart
Northern Fulmar
Yellowish hooked bill with prominent tubular nostrils on top
White-headed 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.
White-headed Petrel
43 cm, wingspan 109 cm. Large petrel with white head, grey back, and white underparts; dark upperwing. Breeds Kerguelen, Macquarie, Auckland, and Antipodes islands. Ranges in subantarctic to temperate Southern Ocean. Feeds on squid and fish; nocturnal at colonies.