Northern Fulmar vs Manx Shearwater
Fulmarus glacialis compared with Puffinus puffinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Northern Fulmar | Manx Shearwater |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Fulmarus glacialis | Puffinus puffinus |
| 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) | 46.5 cm (18.3 in) |
| Weight | 750.0 g (26.46 oz) | 482.25 g (17.01 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.
Manx Shearwater
Geographic Range & Migration
Northern Fulmar
North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Breeds from the Arctic south to Britain, France, and New England.
Manx Shearwater
Conservation Status
Northern Fulmar
Manx Shearwater
How to Tell Them Apart
Northern Fulmar
Yellowish hooked bill with prominent tubular nostrils on top
Manx 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.
Manx Shearwater
30–38 cm, wingspan 76–89 cm. Classic small shearwater; jet-black above, brilliant white below; rapid wing-beats and stiff glides. Breeds UK, Faroe, Iceland, and Canary islands; makes extraordinary migrations to south Atlantic. Feeds on fish and squid; nocturnal at colonies. Near Threatened.