fulmar

Imagine a sturdy grey-and-white seabird soaring over the cold, choppy sea: that is often a fulmar. It may look a bit like a chunky gull, but it is actually closer to albatrosses and petrels. The name comes from Old Norse and means "foul gull," a nod to its best-known habit. These birds are strong fliers that glide on stiff wings in windy weather. They often nest on sea cliffs and rocky islands, and when danger comes too close, they can spit a smelly oil as a defense.

A fulmar is a sturdy, tube-nosed seabird in the petrel family, found mainly in northern oceans, especially the North Atlantic and North Pacific. At first glance, it can look like a gull, but it is more closely related to albatrosses, shearwaters, and petrels. Fulmars have a stocky body, a thick neck, and tube-like nostrils on the bill. These features help them handle salt and life far out at sea.

Fulmars are hardy birds that spend most of their lives over open water, coming ashore mainly to breed in noisy colonies on steep coastal cliffs. They are built for rough weather and can travel long distances by gliding on ocean winds. One of their most unusual features is their defense system: when threatened, especially at the nest, they can spit a foul-smelling stomach oil. This oily spray can damage the feathers of other birds by ruining their waterproofing.

You will usually see the word in bird guides, nature writing, and accounts of northern coasts and open seas. It refers to a real seabird rather than a figurative idea. Fulmars feed on fish, squid, and other floating food, sometimes following ships in search of scraps. Whether riding a storm wind or circling a cliffside colony, the fulmar suggests toughness, endurance, and a life shaped by the sea.