Northern Fulmar vs Little Shearwater
Fulmarus glacialis compared with Puffinus assimilis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Northern Fulmar | Little Shearwater |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Fulmarus glacialis | Puffinus assimilis |
| 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) | 36.0 cm (14.2 in) |
| Weight | 750.0 g (26.46 oz) | 198.0 g (6.98 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
Shared Habitats
None
Northern Fulmar only
None
Little Shearwater only
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.
Little Shearwater
Geographic Range & Migration
Northern Fulmar
North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Breeds from the Arctic south to Britain, France, and New England.
Little Shearwater
Conservation Status
Northern Fulmar
Little Shearwater
How to Tell Them Apart
Northern Fulmar
Yellowish hooked bill with prominent tubular nostrils on top
Little Shearwater
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.
Little Shearwater
25–30 cm. Small shearwater; dark above with white underparts and extensive white on face and sides of neck. Breeds Canary Islands, Madeira, and southern hemisphere islands; ranges in adjacent oceans. Feeds on small fish and squid; fast fluttering flight close to water.