Northern Fulmar vs Murphy's Petrel
Fulmarus glacialis compared with Pterodroma ultima
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Northern Fulmar | Murphy's Petrel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Fulmarus glacialis | Pterodroma ultima |
| 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) | 52.0 cm (20.5 in) |
| Weight | 750.0 g (26.46 oz) | 380.0 g (13.40 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.
Murphy's Petrel
Geographic Range & Migration
Northern Fulmar
North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Breeds from the Arctic south to Britain, France, and New England.
Murphy's Petrel
Conservation Status
Northern Fulmar
Murphy's Petrel
How to Tell Them Apart
Northern Fulmar
Yellowish hooked bill with prominent tubular nostrils on top
Murphy's 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.
Murphy's Petrel
39–41 cm. Dark grey-brown above; variable pale grey below with dusky underwing. Breeds widely across central Pacific (Pitcairn, Austral, Henderson islands). Migrates to North Pacific in non-breeding season. Feeds on squid and fish; nocturnal at breeding colonies; Near Threatened.