Northern Fulmar vs Black-vented Shearwater
Fulmarus glacialis compared with Puffinus opisthomelas
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Northern Fulmar | Black-vented Shearwater |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Fulmarus glacialis | Puffinus opisthomelas |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Procellariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | 47.0 cm (18.5 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 107.0 cm (42.1 in) | 46.6 cm (18.3 in) |
| Weight | 750.0 g (26.46 oz) | 420.5833333333333 g (14.84 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.
Black-vented Shearwater
Geographic Range & Migration
Northern Fulmar
North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Breeds from the Arctic south to Britain, France, and New England.
Black-vented Shearwater
Conservation Status
Northern Fulmar
Black-vented Shearwater
How to Tell Them Apart
Northern Fulmar
Yellowish hooked bill with prominent tubular nostrils on top
Black-vented 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.
Black-vented Shearwater
30–38 cm. Dark above with blackish undertail and vent; white below. Breeds islands off Baja California; ranges offshore in eastern Pacific to Peru. Near Threatened; affected by introduced predators on breeding islands. Feeds on fish; often seen from Baja California shore.