Southern fulmar

The southern fulmar is a seabird of the Southern Hemisphere. Along with the northern fulmar, F. glacialis, it belongs to the fulmar genus Fulmarus in the family Procellariidae, the true petrels. It is also known as the Antarctic fulmar or silver-grey fulmar.

Distribution

Region

Southern Ocean and Subantarctic

Typical Environment

Breeds on coastal cliffs and rocky headlands around Antarctica and subantarctic islands, then disperses widely across the Southern Ocean outside the breeding season. Most abundant along the pack-ice edge, productive shelf breaks, and upwelling zones. Regularly ranges north into subantarctic waters off South America, southern Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Occurs almost entirely offshore, coming to land only to breed.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 600 m

Climate Zone

Polar

Characteristics

Size45–50 cm

Wing Span110–120 cm

Male Weight0.8 kg

Female Weight0.75 kg

Life Expectancy30 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

A southern-hemisphere tubenose, the southern fulmar produces an energy-rich stomach oil used to feed chicks and as a defensive spray against predators. It often follows fishing vessels and whales to scavenge food and can range thousands of kilometers over the Southern Ocean. Long-lived and highly philopatric, it returns to the same cliff colonies year after year.

Gallery

In flight

Egg of Fulmarus glacialoides

Behaviour

Temperament

social and active at sea, territorial at nest sites

Flight Pattern

dynamic soaring and gliding with occasional stiff wingbeats

Social Behavior

Breeds colonially on cliff ledges, laying a single egg in a shallow scrape. Both sexes share incubation and chick-rearing duties, often maintaining long-term pair bonds. Outside the breeding season it forms loose flocks and congregates where food is abundant, including near fishing vessels.

Migratory Pattern

Seasonal migrant

Song Description

Mostly silent at sea. At colonies, gives harsh cackles, croaks, and chuckling calls during courtship, territorial disputes, and pair recognition.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Southern giant petrel

The southern giant petrel, also known as the Antarctic giant petrel, giant fulmar, stinker, and stinkpot, is a large seabird of the southern oceans. Its distribution overlaps broadly with the similar northern giant petrel, though it overall is centered slightly further south. Adults of the two species can be distinguished by the colour of their bill-tip: greenish in the southern and reddish in the northern.

Southern grey-headed sparrow

The southern grey-headed sparrow is a passerine bird of the sparrow family Passeridae. It is sometimes treated as a subspecies of the grey-headed sparrow. It is found in savanna and woodland in Angola and Zambia southwards into South Africa, where it is expanding its range and is kept as a caged bird, like its relative the white-rumped seedeater.

Southern ground hornbill

The southern ground hornbill is one of two species of ground hornbill, both of which are found solely within Africa, and is the largest species in the hornbill order worldwide. It can be found in the southern regions of Africa, ranging from Kenya to South Africa. Within these regions, they inhabit both woodlands and savannas. The other species of the genus Bucorvus is the Abyssinian ground hornbill, B. abyssinicus.

Southern house wren

The southern house wren is a very small passerine bird in the wren family Troglodytidae. It is found from southern Mexico to southern Chile and southern Argentina. The name troglodytes means "hole dweller", and is a reference to the bird's tendency to disappear into crevices when hunting insects or to seek shelter. It was formerly considered to be conspecific with the northern house wren.