Northern Fulmar

Distribution, movements and phenology

The Northern Fulmar breeds between March and August across vast areas of the North Atlantic and North Pacific, from Japan and the United Kingdom to the High Arctic. The northern populations are migratory, moving southwards as the sea freezes. The more southerly populations, however, tend to be more dispersive, but rarely reach warm-water areas (Billerman et al. 2026). Records in Portuguese waters are rare and mostly occasional in any of the three regions (Correia-Fagundes et al. 2021; Birding Azores 2022; Robb et al. 2025). These observations are usually of solitary birds occurring during winter or following severe storms, during which some dead or weakened birds are found on beaches (Costa et al. 2020).

Based on data from 34 birds fitted with GLS between 2007 and 2021 in colonies on the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom, the species was found to occur in the Portuguese EEZ throughout most of the year, with greater use in March and between August and October, corresponding to the start of the breeding season and post-breeding movements. It is during this latter period that the species exhibits a more extensive distribution, particularly in the Azores sub-area and in the oceanic waters off the Mainland, especially in the northern and north-western regions of the archipelago. In the Madeira sub-area, the distribution appears to be less extensive.

Abundance and population trends

The global population has been estimated at 20 million individuals, of which 7 million are found in Europe (BirdLife International 2025). Whilst the population trend in North America is one of growth, Europe has seen a decline since the 1980s, with an estimated reduction of over 40%.

In Portugal, as this is a species that very rarely approaches the coast, the population size using Portuguese waters is difficult to estimate. The lack of information regarding its population trends makes it impossible to assess its environmental status. However, stranding data recorded between the 1990s and the present day point to similar orders of magnitude, with only a few individuals being recorded on the Mainland coast (Granadeiro et al. 1997; Oliveira et al. 2023c).

Ecology and habitat

This species typically nests on cliffs and rocky faces, but also occasionally on flatter terrain. Its diet consists of various species of fish, squid and zooplankton (particularly amphipods), and it also feeds on offal and carrion. Most of its food is obtained by surface feeding, but it can also make short dives (Billerman et al. 2026). It is also common to see large numbers approaching fishing vessels, particularly trawlers, longliners and gillnet vessels.

Threats and conservation

Outside breeding areas, the main threats to the species are mortality due to bycatch in fishing gear, particularly in demersal longlines, trawls and gillnets (Dunn et al. 2001; Anderson et al. 2011; Žydelis et al. 2013). Plastic ingestion is also a significant threat to the Northern Fulmar, with studies showing that around 95% of birds washed ashore in the North Sea have plastic in their stomachs (van Franeker et al. 2011). Most contain quantities exceeding the limit of 0.1 g per individual established by the OSPAR Convention. However, the population impacts of this ingestion remain unknown.

Autor

Tânia Nascimento

Owners/sources of tracking data

Thompson 2013, SEATRACK