Northern fulmar
Fulmarus glacialis
The northern fulmar, Arctic fulmar, or simply fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) is an abundant seabird found primarily in subarctic regions of the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans.
About the Northern fulmar
The northern fulmar, Arctic fulmar, or simply fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) is an abundant seabird found primarily in subarctic regions of the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. There has been one confirmed sighting in the Southern Hemisphere, with a single bird seen south of New Zealand. Fulmars come in one of two colour morphs; a light one in temperate populations, with white head and body and grey wings and tail, and a dark one in arctic populations, which is uniformly grey; intermediate birds are common. Though similar in appearance to gulls, fulmars are in fact members of the family Procellariidae, which includes petrels and shearwaters. The northern fulmar and its sister species, the southern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialoides), are the only extant members of the genus Fulmarus. The f
Fun Facts About Northern fulmar
- The northern fulmar was first described as Procellaria glacialis by Carl Linnaeus in 1761, based on a specimen from within the Arctic Circle, on Spitsbergen.
- The northern fulmar and its sister species, the southern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialoides), are the only extant members of the genus Fulmarus.
- The bills of Procellariiformes are also unique in that they are split into between seven and nine horny plates.
- The Mallemuk Mountain in Northeastern Greenland is named after the northern fulmar (Danish: Mallemuk).
- It will mat the plumage of avian predators, and can lead to their death.
Conservation Status
The Northern fulmar is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. This species is currently stable and not at significant risk of population decline.
Taxonomy & Classification
| Order | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae |
| Genus | Fulmarus |
| Species | Fulmarus glacialis |
Range & Habitat
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Other species in the Procellariidae family: