Why does the Northern Fulmar spit oil?

The Northern Fulmar, both adults and chicks, defends itself by spitting a foul-smelling, orange stomach oil at predators or intruders. This sticky substance can mat the feathers of other birds, destroying their waterproofing and flight capabilities, which often leads to their death. It is a highly effective defense mechanism.

Is the Northern Fulmar a type of gull?

No, despite a superficial resemblance, the Northern Fulmar is not a gull. It belongs to the Procellariidae family, which includes petrels and shearwaters. It can be distinguished from gulls by its stiff-winged, gliding flight, thicker neck, and most notably, the prominent tubular nostrils on top of its bill.

How long do Northern Fulmars live?

Northern Fulmars are remarkably long-lived seabirds, with an average lifespan of over 30 years. Some individuals have been recorded living for more than 50 years.

The Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis): Master Glider of Cold Seas

A Northern Fulmar gliding effortlessly over the ocean with its stiff wings. — The Northern Fulmar is a pelagic seabird that spends most of its life at sea, returning to land only to breed.

A Relative of Albatrosses

The Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) is a rugged seabird often mistaken for a gull, but it is not related. It belongs to the order Procellariiformes, making it a close cousin of albatrosses, petrels, and shearwaters. Its name is thought to derive from the Old Norse "Fúll mår," meaning "foul gull," a nod to its defensive habit of spitting a foul-smelling oil. A true master of flight, it glides on stiff wings over the open ocean, using wind currents with remarkable efficiency.

Identifying the Northern Fulmar

At a distance, its stocky, gull-like appearance with grey and white plumage can be deceiving. However, several key features make it unmistakable:

The "Tube-Nose": The most distinctive feature is its short, stout bill, which has prominent tubular nostrils (naricorns) on top. This structure, characteristic of its family, houses a gland that allows it to excrete excess salt from drinking seawater.
Flight Pattern: Its flight is highly characteristic, consisting of a series of rapid, shallow wingbeats followed by long glides on stiff, straight wings, often just above the waves. Gulls have a more flexible, flapping flight.
Overall Appearance: It has a thick neck and a large, rounded head with a distinctive dark patch in front of the eye. Unlike many gulls, it lacks bold black wingtips. While most are light-phased, darker grey morphs also exist, especially in Arctic populations.

Our Ornithologist's Advice

By the Les-Oiseaux.com team, published on July 18, 2025

My advice: To confidently separate a Fulmar from a gull at sea, ignore color for a moment and focus on the 'personality' of its flight. A gull appears to 'row' through the air with deep, flexible wingbeats. The Fulmar, however, is a born glider. It looks stiff, almost mechanical, as if locked onto an invisible track, using the wind with maximum efficiency. This stiff-winged glide is the giveaway every time.

If you visit a breeding colony on coastal cliffs, maintain a respectful distance. The Fulmar is famous for its defensive 'spit'—a well-aimed projectile of stomach oil. This isn't random aggression; it's a vital survival tactic to protect its single, precious chick. Observing from afar is the best way to appreciate this exceptional mariner without causing disturbance.

Calls and Sounds

The Northern Fulmar is mostly silent while at sea. At its breeding colonies, however, it becomes quite vocal, producing guttural cackling and chuckling sounds. These calls are often made during social interactions, with the birds puffing out their throats.

Northern Fulmar vs. Herring Gull

Although they often share similar marine habitats, telling a Northern Fulmar from a Herring Gull (*Larus argentatus*) is straightforward once you know what to look for.

Northern Fulmar

Flight: Stiff-winged gliding with shallow wingbeats.
Bill: Short and stout with visible tubular nostrils on top.
Structure: Stocky, bull-necked appearance.
Wingtips: Plain grey, lacking distinct black patterns.

Herring Gull

Flight: Deeper, more flexible wingbeats.
Bill: Large and yellow with a red spot on the lower mandible; no tubes.
Structure: More slender and elongated.
Wingtips: Black with white "mirrors" (spots).

Habitat and Distribution

The Northern Fulmar is a pelagic species, meaning it spends the vast majority of its life on the open ocean, primarily in the cold waters of the North Atlantic and North Pacific. It only comes ashore for the breeding season, establishing colonies on inaccessible ledges of coastal cliffs and rocky islands. Its breeding distribution is circumpolar, with major populations in Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and the British Isles.

Distribution Map

The map below shows the vast range of the Northern Fulmar, indicating its year-round presence (purple) and specific breeding areas (orange).

Present all year

Breeding Range

Diet and Foraging

The Northern Fulmar has a varied diet, feeding on fish, squid, shrimp, crustaceans, and zooplankton seized from the water's surface. It is also a notorious opportunist, frequently following fishing vessels to feast on discarded offal. This behavior has unfortunately led to a significant problem: Fulmars are known to ingest large amounts of plastic debris, which they mistake for food, posing a serious threat to their health and survival.

Nesting and a Stinky Defense

Northern Fulmars are long-lived and slow to mature, typically not breeding until they are 8 or 9 years old. They form strong, lifelong pair bonds. The nest is a minimal scrape on a bare rock ledge or in a grassy tussock on a cliff face. The female lays a single large, white egg, which is incubated by both parents for around 50 days.

The Fulmar's most famous trait is its defensive strategy. Both adults and chicks can projectile-spit a viscous, foul-smelling stomach oil at any intruder. This oily substance can be aimed with surprising accuracy over a distance of several feet. For an avian predator, the oil is devastating, as it mats feathers, destroying their insulation and waterproofing and often leading to death.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do Northern Fulmars handle sea salt?

Like other seabirds in their family, Northern Fulmars have a special salt gland located above their eyes, connected to their bill via the prominent tubes on top. This gland allows them to drink seawater by filtering out and excreting excess salt, a crucial adaptation for a life spent on the open ocean.

Is the Northern Fulmar endangered?

Globally, the Northern Fulmar has a large population and is listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN. However, they face significant threats. The ingestion of plastic waste is a major concern, as it can cause internal injuries, starvation, and toxic effects. They are also vulnerable to being caught as bycatch in commercial fishing gear.

How can you tell the sex of a Northern Fulmar?

Males and females are visually identical in plumage, making them impossible to tell apart by sight alone. Generally, males are slightly larger and heavier than females, but this difference is only apparent when birds are studied in hand. Their strong pair bonds are reaffirmed each year with courtship displays at the nest site.