Southern Fulmar

The Southern Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialoides, is a robust seabird of the Southern Hemisphere, known to some as the Antarctic Fulmar or the silver-grey fulmar. It presents a pale grey upper side and a pristine white underside, with a distinctive white patch on the wing. This bird is a fairly large member of the true petrels family, Procellariidae, with a wingspan stretching between 110 to 120 centimeters.

Identification Tips

When observing the Southern Fulmar, look for a bird with a body length of 45 to 50 centimeters. The males are slightly heavier than females, with weights increasing during the incubation period. The species exhibits a white head with a pale grey crown, blackish wingtips with a prominent white patch, and dark trailing edges on the wings. The legs and feet are a pale blue, while the bill is pink with a black tip and dark bluish naricorns. Juveniles can be identified by their more slender bills compared to adults.

Habitat

The Southern Fulmar breeds on the Antarctic coast and nearby islands, favoring cliffs in ice-free areas for nesting. During the non-breeding season, it can be found along the outer edge of the pack ice, in waters with temperatures ranging from -1.5 to 0.5°C.

Distribution

This species has a circumpolar distribution, with breeding colonies on islands around Antarctica, including the South Sandwich Islands, South Orkney Islands, South Shetland Islands, Bouvet Island, and Peter I Island. In winter, it migrates northward, reaching as far as 40°S latitude and occasionally being spotted off the coasts of South Africa, southern Australia, and New Zealand.

Behaviour

The Southern Fulmar is a gregarious bird, often seen in flocks, especially when food is abundant. It is known for its flight pattern of shallow flaps followed by long glides, with wings held stiffly. The bird is usually silent but can be quite vocal with loud, cackling calls near the nest or in feeding flocks.

Song & Calls

While generally quiet, the Southern Fulmar can produce a variety of sounds, including loud cackling calls in social situations and softer droning and guttural croaking during courtship.

Breeding

Breeding colonies may contain hundreds of birds, with courtship displays involving calling, head waving, and mutual preening. A single white egg is laid in a shallow scrape lined with stone chips, sheltered from the wind. Both parents share incubation duties, which last about 45 days. Chicks are initially covered in white down, with a second set of down being grey on the upperparts.

Diet and Feeding

The Southern Fulmar's diet primarily consists of krill, fish, and squid, which are picked from the water's surface. It often feeds in flocks, sometimes alongside other seabird species, and may dive occasionally to pursue prey.

Conservation status

With a population estimated at over 4 million individuals, the Southern Fulmar is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. It is not currently considered at risk of extinction.