General

Northern Fulmar Light Morph: The light morph Northern Fulmar has gray upperparts and white underparts, head, neck, and tail. The dark morph Northern Fulmar has a uniformly dark gray body and paler primaries. Intermediates of all shades exist. Bill is short, thick, and yellow with a tube on top. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Northern Fulmar Light Morph: Breeds in Aleutians and on coasts and islands of Alaska and Canadian Arctic. Spends winters at sea, in Pacific Ocean south to California and in Atlantic south to North Carolina; also in northern Eurasia. Pelagic, only comes ashore to breed.

Breeding and Nesting

Northern Fulmar Light Morph: One red marked, white egg is laid in a slight ground depression, sometimes lined with pebbles. Incubation ranges from 52 to 53 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Northern Fulmar Light Morph: Eats fish, crustaceans, marine worms, squid, and carrion. Snatches food at or just below the water surface; eats on the water.

Vocalization

Northern Fulmar: Gives chuckling and grunting notes when feeding. On breeding grounds gives a variety of guttural calls.

Similar Species

Northern Fulmar Light Morph: Gulls have more slender necks, thinner bills without nasal tubes, and deep, steady, flapping wing beats.