Fulmar

The Fulmar is a robust seabird with a stocky body and thick neck. Its plumage is predominantly grey above and white below, with a pale blue-grey tinge on the wings. The bird has a distinctive tube-shaped nostril on top of its yellow, hooked bill.

Females and males are virtually identical, although males may be marginally heavier than females. Juveniles resemble adults but may have slightly darker colouration on their wings and back.

In flight, fulmars are relatively easy to identify, gliding and banking close to the ocean surface with stiff, outstretched wings. From a distance, they resemble shearwaters, but up close, they can be distinguished by their wing size and flight style.

Fulmars inhabit the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans, breeding on coastal cliffs and rocky islands. They are found in subarctic and temperate regions, with significant populations in Iceland, Norway, and the British Isles.

During non-breeding seasons, Fulmars disperse widely across open oceans. In North America, they can be observed along the coasts of Alaska and Canada, while in Europe, they're common around the UK and Ireland.

The UK’s fulmar breeding colonies are concentrated on Scotland’s Northern Isles and along its north coast. Hirta, Dun, Soay and Stacs in the St Kilda archipelago are leading breeding grounds, with further sizeable populations on Foula and Fair Isle in the Shetland Islands.

North American fulmar-spotting sites include Andrews Point (Cape Ann) and Race Point (Cape Cod), Massachusetts. Breeding colonies are naturally established in isolated regions and the best chance of seeing fulmars is when the birds feed over coastal areas.