Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis (Linnaeus, 1761))

Scientific name: Fulmarus glacialis (Linnaeus, 1761)
Common name: Northern Fulmar
Other names: Arctic Fulmar
French name: Fulmar boréal, Pétrel fulmar
Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Procellariidae
Size: Body size: 45 to 51 cm; Weight : 650 to 850 g for females, 700 to 1000 g for males; Wingspan: 102 to 112 cm
Habitat: Cliffs, estuaries and bays along sea shores during the breeding season, further offshore the rest of the year.
Food: Zooplankton and molluscs but also small fishes, crustaceans and other small species.
Nesting: Northern Fulmars nest in colonies. Females lay one egg directly on the ground, often rather high on the side of cliff.
Migration: Northern populations move southwards in winter but do not reach the hot seas.
Geographic area: Northern oceans of the northern hemisphere, expanding southwards to northern France.

Birds of the Procellariidae family have their nostrils enclosed in two prominent tubes located on the upper side of the bill.
Northern Fulmars show white upper side and head. The eyes are circled by a small black patch.
The wings, rump and tail are grey. The tip of the wings is slightly darker.
The hooked bill is grey near the nostrils and yellow at the tip.
The legs are grey and palmate.


Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) - Dyrhólaey, Iceland - August 27th 2014
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Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)
I have only observed Arctic Fulmars in the far, on cliffs.
All the pictures are important crops.



Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) - Hvalfjarðarsveit, Iceland - August 26th 2014
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Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)
I have observed these Northern Fulmars next to the Glymur waterfall.



Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) - Hvalfjarðarsveit, Iceland - August 26th 2014
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Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)
This young Northern Fulmar will have soon to jump down for its first flight.



Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) - Vík, Reynisdrangar beach, Iceland - August 27th 2014
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Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)
Adults still come to feed chicks at nests, however these last ones will soon be able to fly.



Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) - Húsavík, Iceland - September 4th 2014
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Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)
I have done this observation on a boat during a whale watching tour.
The flight of the Arctic Fulmar is very nice with long hovers close to the water.

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