Key information
Almost gull-like, this grey and white seabird is related to the albatrosses. The fulmar flies low over the sea on stiff wings, with shallow wingbeats, gliding and banking to show its white underparts then grey upperparts. At its breeding sites it will fly high up the cliff face, riding the updraughts. They will feed in flocks out at sea. They defend their nests from intruders by spitting out a foul-smelling oil.
What they eat:
Fish waste, crustaceans and sand eels.
Measurements:
- Length:
- 45-50cm
- Wingspan:
- 1-1.12m
- Weight:
- 610-1,000g
Population:
- UK breeding:
- 500,000 pairs
- UK wintering:
- 1.6-1.8 million birds
Identifying features:
Fulmar
