Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)

Description: Northern fulmars have a body shape similar to a gull, but with longer narrow wings. They have a yellow beak and their feathers are either a uniform gray (dark morph), or a white and light gray combination (light morph). They are rarely seen from land, but if on a boat, you can spot them flying over the water with a fast wingbeat.

Habitat: Found most commonly in open ocean around Alaska and Northeastern Canada, Northern fulmars can be seen during the non-breeding season as far south as Baja California, Mexico. 

Nesting: Northern fulmars nest on ocean side cliffs in Alaska and Northern Canada. Females lay one white egg and both parents incubate it for about 50 days. Parents tend to the chick for an additions 50 days until the chick learns to fly and can leave the nest.

Diet: Only capable of shallow dives, Northern fulmars primarily feed by dipping their head under water while floating on the surface. Their diet includes a broad range of species: crustaceans, fish, squid, worms, and even jellyfish. Hunting for an easy meal they have been spotted gathering around fishing boats, unfortunately this habit also causes them to be regularly caught in fishing nets.  

Tide Pool Tidbits:

• Due to this species vulnerability to climate change, high consumption of plastic, exposure to oil spills, and commonly being victims of fishing bycatch, Northern fulmars have experiences a rapid decline in the past several decades. It is predicted that the Northern fulmar population will continue to suffer as their breeding grounds are impacted by climate change.  

• To defend their nests, Northern fulmars have the ability to spit a bad smelling oil at predators. 

Reference: The Cornell Lab, Audubon