Northern fulmar

How it lives

Fulmars breed on coastal cliffs in colonies. They start breeding at 6 to 12 years old and lay a single white egg that is incubated for about 50 to 54 days. Chicks fledge after about 70 to 75 days, and in the UK they leap from the cliff in July. A lifespan of 31 years is not uncommon, and BTO lists a record of nearly 42 years. Adults and chicks defend themselves by spitting a foul-smelling oil.

Where it goes

Fulmars spend most of their lives at sea and come to coastal cliffs to breed in summer. The Atlantic form that nests in the high Arctic stays at high latitudes in winter. The Pacific form winters south to Japan and Baja California. Audubon says birds reach New England on the Atlantic side and southern California on the Pacific side. In the UK it is present all year around Scotland, Wales, Ireland and parts of England (BTO).

We only draw a journey on the map when scientists have tracked it or clearly documented it. For this animal we have not found one yet.

Populations

Least Concern globally (IUCN, 2018). Estimates differ: Audubon gives about 14 million birds, and Wikipedia gives 15 to 30 million mature individuals. Iceland holds the largest population, 1 to 2 million pairs, and Wikipedia lists it as decreasing. Breeding populations in France, Germany, Denmark, Norway and Svalbard are listed as increasing. The UK had about 350,000 breeding pairs in 2015 (BTO). That is up 77 percent between the 1969 to 1970 and 1985 to 1988 censuses, steady until the early 2000s, and slightly lower since. It is Amber-listed in the UK and Vulnerable on the European list.