Fulmarus glacialoides (A.Smith, 1840)

Taxonomic Naming

Fulmarus glacialoides (A.Smith, 1840) is a fairly large, bulky petrel.

Size Measurements

Adults measure 45 to 50 cm (18–20 in) in length, with a wingspan of 110 to 120 cm (43–47 in).

Standard Weight

Males have an average weight of 795 g (28.0 oz), while the smaller females average around 740 g (26 oz).

Incubation Period Weight

At the start of an incubation shift, average weights increase to 1,005 g (35.5 oz) for males and 932 g (32.9 oz) for females.

Male Morphometrics

Standard measurements for males are 34 cm (13 in) wing length, 44.6 mm (1.76 in) bill length, 52.1 mm (2.05 in) tarsus length, and 12.4 cm (4.88 in) tail length.

Female Morphometrics

For females, standard measurements are 33.9 cm (13.3 in) wing length, 43 mm (1.69 in) bill length, 51.5 mm (2.03 in) tarsus length, and 12.1 cm (4.8 in) tail length.

Flight Behavior

This species flies using a combination of shallow wing flaps and long glides, and often looks downward to scan the water.

Wing Structure

Its wings are fairly broad and rounded, and held stiff during flight.

Plumage Coloration

Its plumage is mostly pale silvery-grey on the upper body and white on the lower body.

Head Coloration

The head is white, with a pale grey crown.

Wing Markings

Wingtips are blackish with a large white patch, and the wings have a dark rear edge.

Limb Coloration

Legs and feet are pale blue.

Bill Characteristics

The bill is pink with a black tip and dark bluish naricorns.

Juvenile Bill Trait

First-year individuals have a more slender bill than full-grown adults.

Typical Vocalization

The species is usually silent, but produces loud cackling calls at the nest or in feeding flocks.

Courtship Vocalization

Courting birds make soft droning and guttural croaking calls.

Island Breeding Range

Breeding colonies are located on a number of islands around Antarctica, including the South Sandwich Islands, South Orkney Islands, South Shetland Islands, Bouvet Island, and Peter I Island.

Mainland Breeding Range

It also breeds at multiple sites along Antarctica's mainland coast.

Summer Marine Habitat

At sea, it is mainly found along the outer edge of pack ice in summer, in water with temperatures between −1.5 and 0.5 °C.

Winter Core Range

In winter, it regularly ranges north to around 40°S latitude.

Humboldt Current Range

It travels further north into the cool waters of the Humboldt Current, reaching as far as Peru.

Vagrant Southern Hemisphere Records

Small numbers have been sighted off the coasts of South Africa, southern Australia, and New Zealand.

Storm Wreck Event

Large numbers of individuals may wash up on beaches after storms.

North America Sighting Reports

There are several unconfirmed reports of this species from the west coast of North America.

Global Population Estimate

It is a common species with a total population of at least 4 million individuals.

South Sandwich Islands Population

Around one million breeding pairs live on the South Sandwich Islands alone.

Conservation Status

The species is not considered at risk of extinction, and is classified as Least Concern by BirdLife International.