One of Oregon's characteristic offshore seabirds, these stocky gull-like birds with steep foreheads come in a broad range of color morphs from white to slate gray, with buffy, bluish-gray, mottled and brown intermediates. The round head and pecking motion of birds feeding on the water is reminiscent of the shape and behavior of pigeons. The heavy hooked bills are divided into colorful plates of green, yellow, and orange, with large tubed nostrils atop.

They are irregularly common to abundant in Oregon in winter, especially beyond five miles from shore.

Hear the call of the Northern fulmar

Photo by Martyne Reesman, ODFW