Fauna
Bird

Southern Fulmar

Fulmarus glacialoides

Also known as Antarctic Fulmar, Silver-grey Fulmar, Slender-billed Fulmar

Southern fulmars glide tirelessly over the icy waters of the Southern Ocean, riding strong sea winds with stiff-winged mastery. They nest in massive, noisy colonies on Antarctic cliffs and offshore islands, laying a single egg in a shallow rock scrape. When threatened, adults and chicks defend their nests by forcefully projecting foul-smelling stomach oil at intruders.

PelagicSeabirdColonial
Southern Fulmar reference
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAntarctic krill, Small fish, Squid
Predators
  • Brown Skua
  • Southern Giant Petrel
ThreatsClimate change, commercial fisheries bycatch, and plastic pollution
HabitatsOpen ocean, subantarctic waters, and rocky coastal cliffs
Life span15–30 years
Classification
  1. FamilyProcellariidae
  2. SpeciesFulmarus glacialoides
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Look for pale silver-grey upperparts, stark white underparts, and a pink bill with a dark tip.
Support conservation
Observe nesting cliffs from a respectful distance using binoculars or long lenses.
Responsible observation
  • Pelagic trips: Look for them trailing behind pelagic expedition vessels in southern waters.
  • Breeding sites: Maintain a safe distance from cliff nests to avoid provoking defensive oil projection.
Related species
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