Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) - Birds Around Me 0277

The Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), sometimes called the Arctic Fulmar, is a stout‑bodied seabird that inhabits the cold waters of the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Arctic Oceans. Though it looks superficially like a gull, it is actually a member of the petrel family (Procellariidae), closely related to albatrosses and shearwaters.  

Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)
Iceland, July 2025

Adults measure about 45–50 cm in length with a wingspan of 102–112 cm. Their plumage varies from pale gray and white to darker shades, depending on the population. A key feature is the tube‑shaped nostrils on their bill, used to excrete excess salt and to enhance their keen sense of smell—an adaptation that helps them locate fish, squid, and crustaceans across vast oceans.  

Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)
Iceland, July 2025

Northern Fulmars are renowned for their stiff‑winged flight, gliding effortlessly over rough seas. They breed in colonies on steep cliffs, laying a single egg in a simple scrape. After the short breeding season, they return to the open ocean, where they spend most of their lives.  

Culturally, fulmars have long been part of northern traditions. In places like the Faroe Islands and Iceland, they were historically harvested for food and oil. Today, they are valued more for their role in marine ecosystems and as indicators of ocean health.  

Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, Northern Fulmars remain abundant, though they face threats from plastic pollution, overfishing, and climate change.

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Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)
Iceland, July 2025

Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)
Iceland, July 2025

Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)
Iceland, July 2025