Northern Fulmar vs Messager sagittaire
Fulmarus glacialis comparé à Sagittarius serpentarius
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Northern Fulmar | Messager sagittaire |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Fulmarus glacialis | Sagittarius serpentarius |
| Ordre | Procellariiformes | Accipitriformes |
| Famille | Procellariidae | Sagittariidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Endangered |
| Longueur | 47,0 cm (18.5 in) | 130,0 cm (51.2 in) |
| Envergure | 107,0 cm (42.1 in) | 210,0 cm (82.7 in) |
| Poids | 750,0 g (26.46 oz) | 3700,0 g (130.51 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Fish, squid, crustaceans, offal from fishing vessels, and zooplankton. Feeds by surface-seizing and shallow plunge-diving. | Snakes, lizards, small mammals, and large insects. Hunts on foot, stomping prey to death with … |
| Taille de la couvée | 1 | 1-4 |
| 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.
Messager sagittaire
Open grasslands, savannas, and light woodland across sub-Saharan Africa. Avoids dense forests and very arid regions.
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.
Messager sagittaire
A surprisingly deep, resonant croaking 'kowrr-kowrr' often heard at dawn on African savannas. Also gives pig-like grunting sounds. Mostly silent compared to true songbirds.
Geographic Range & Migration
Northern Fulmar
North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Breeds from the Arctic south to Britain, France, and New England.
Messager sagittaire
Sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal and Somalia south to South Africa. Resident throughout its range.
Statut de conservation
Northern Fulmar
Messager sagittaire
How to Tell Them Apart
Northern Fulmar
Light morph: white head and underparts with grey wings and back. Dark morph: entirely grey. Tube-nosed bill and stiff-winged flight distinctive at sea.
Yellowish hooked bill with prominent tubular nostrils on top
Messager sagittaire
Grey body plumage with black flight feathers and thigh feathers. Distinctive long black crest feathers trail from the back of the head. Orange-red bare facial skin.
Short, strong, hooked greyish bill with a yellowish cere
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.
Messager sagittaire
The secretary bird is the only raptor that hunts primarily on foot, striding through grasslands on crane-like legs up to 1.2 meters tall. Its name may derive from the crest feathers resembling quill pens tucked behind a secretary's ear. The species is classified as Endangered due to habitat loss and decline across much of its range.