Northern Fulmar vs Providence Petrel
Fulmarus glacialis compared with Pterodroma solandri
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Northern Fulmar | Providence Petrel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Fulmarus glacialis | Pterodroma solandri |
| 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) | 59.8 cm (23.5 in) |
| Weight | 750.0 g (26.46 oz) | 480.3333333333333 g (16.94 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.
Providence Petrel
Geographic Range & Migration
Northern Fulmar
North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Breeds from the Arctic south to Britain, France, and New England.
Providence Petrel
Conservation Status
Northern Fulmar
Providence Petrel
How to Tell Them Apart
Northern Fulmar
Yellowish hooked bill with prominent tubular nostrils on top
Providence 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.
Providence Petrel
40 cm, wingspan 96–100 cm. Dark brown overall with pale forehead; underwing shows white flash at base of primaries. Breeds Lord Howe Island; migrates to North Pacific after breeding. Feeds on squid and fish; populations recovering after predator control on Lord Howe.