Fulmar Vs Kittiwake: Key Differences Explained
Fulmars and Kittiwakes may look similar at first glance, but they each have distinct traits that make them special. From their physical size to the way they build nests, these seabirds exhibit key differences.
In this article, you’ll learn about their contrasting calls, sizes, and feeding habits, as well as how they adapt to their environments. Read on to know more.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Fulmars create simple nests with long incubation periods, while Kittiwakes make compact nests and have shorter nesting times.
- Kittiwakes are lighter and more agile, well suited to hovering and catching prey over the sea.
- Kittiwakes have loud and distinctive calls, whereas Fulmars tend to be quieter and less vocal.
- Fulmars are more robust with stiff wings, contrasting with the delicate build of Kittiwakes and their distinctive black wingtips.
What Is The Difference Between A Fulmar And A Kittiwake?
Let’s look at how Fulmars and Kittiwakes differ, examining everything from their looks to where they live and how they build their nests.
Visual Differences
While Fulmars and Kittiwakes share similarities with gulls, they each have distinct features. Fulmars, with their greyish white plumage, are known for their distinctive, stiff winged flight pattern.
They glide effortlessly across the sea, showing off their white underparts and grey upperparts as they manoeuvre. This flight style stands out, making them easily recognisable in marine environments.
Kittiwakes, in contrast, have a more delicate frame. They are also medium sized but their grey backs and white underparts, paired with a small yellow bill, set them apart.
The black wing tips without any white markings create a ‘dipped in ink’ effect that contrasts sharply with their light plumage. Their long black legs further enhance their distinct and graceful flight profile, distinguishing them from Fulmars.
Differences In Habitat
Primarily found in the northern hemisphere, Kittiwakes are seabirds that live along coastal areas, particularly in the North Atlantic and North Pacific. They breed on steep coastal cliffs, forming large colonies that can be made up of thousands of birds.
The UK has significant populations, especially around Scotland’s Isle of May, Orkney, and Shetland Islands, where they enjoy abundant fish and secure nesting places well above most predators.
After breeding, Kittiwakes migrate to the open sea, where they spend a long time away from land, living a way of life that sets them apart from other gull species by staying out at sea until it’s time to return to breed.
Fulmars are seabirds that predominantly live over the open ocean, especially in the northern Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans. These birds are adapted to a life spent mainly over deep waters, where they find their food and spend most of their time.
During the breeding season, Fulmars gather in large colonies on cliffs in subarctic and Arctic regions.
Their nesting locations range from the high Arctic to more temperate zones, typically found on cliffs and islands close to Arctic ice or in milder oceanic waters, demonstrating their ability to thrive in diverse environments.
Nests & Eggs
When Fulmars build their nests, they opt for simplicity, often just a scrape on a rock ledge or a shallow depression on the ground, sometimes adding a few small stones or bits of vegetation.
The time spent on nest construction can vary, from a few hours to a few days, depending on the availability of materials and the specific site. Both male and female Fulmars are involved in the nest building process, showing their minimalistic approach.
They lay one white egg each breeding season, usually between May and early June, and it takes around 47 to 54 days for the egg to hatch.
The long incubation period means that both parents share the responsibility, which is essential for the chick’s survival in the harsh environment they live in.
Kittiwakes, on the other hand, take a more structured approach to nest building, using mud, grasses, and seaweed, which takes about one to two weeks. Their nests must be compact and secure to withstand the harsh coastal conditions, and they are built on narrow cliff ledges, providing protection from ground predators.
Both parents are involved throughout the breeding season, maintaining the nest’s stability. Kittiwakes lay between one and two eggs from late May to early June, and the eggs typically take around 24 to 27 days to hatch.
The eggs are coloured in shades of creamy buff, blue, or tan, with dark spots, helping them blend into the cliffside environment. Kittiwake chicks fledge in just 35 to 40 days, requiring rapid development and alertness due to the dangers of their nesting sites.
Bird Calls
The call of the Kittiwake is one of its most recognisable features, characterised by a high pitched ‘kittee-wa-aaake, kitte-wa-aaake’ that is most often heard during the breeding season.
This call has become one of the signature sounds of the coastal cliffs where they nest.
It serves as an important means of communication among the birds, while also playing a vital role in reinforcing pair bonds and marking territory within their colonies.
Meanwhile, Fulmars are much quieter, especially when they are out at sea, which is where they spend the majority of their lives. They don’t make much noise, and their presence tends to go unnoticed in terms of sound.
This quieter behaviour contrasts with the vocal Kittiwakes, whose calls dominate the air at their nesting sites.
This difference in vocalisation patterns reflects the unique ecological roles and behaviours of these two seabird species.
Size & Weight
Relatively larger and heavier, Fulmars typically weigh between 610 and 1,000 grams, with males sometimes heavier than females. They are similar in size to medium sized gulls but are distinguished by their broader wings, spanning between 100 and 112 cm.
This large wingspan, along with their body length of 45 to 50 cm, allows Fulmars to glide effortlessly across the ocean, making use of winds and updrafts to travel great distances.
Kittiwakes, however, are lighter and more compact, weighing between 300 and 500 grams, which is less than many gull species.
Their lighter build makes them agile in flight and well suited for hovering while hunting. Kittiwakes measure 38 to 40 cm in length, with a wingspan of 95 to 110 cm. Their long, pointed wings are perfectly adapted for gliding on ocean winds and efficiently catching prey from the water’s surface.
These differences in size and weight highlight the contrasting adaptations of both species to their marine habitats.
SEE ALSO: Fulmar Life Cycle: Nest Building To Fledging (and everything in between)
Frequently Asked Questions
A Fulmar is a seabird adapted to life mainly over the open ocean, particularly in the northern Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans. They are recognised for their robust build and ability to glide long distances using oceanic winds.
Fulmars are known for their greyish-white plumage and distinctive stiff winged flight pattern. They are relatively larger and heavier than some gull species, typically weighing between 610 and 1,000 grams. They possess a broad wingspan of 100 to 112 cm and are about 45 to 50 cm long.
Kittiwake gulls measure about 38 to 40 cm in length, with a wingspan ranging from 95 to 110 cm, and they weigh between 300 and 500 grams.
A kittiwake makes a high-pitched ‘kittee-wa-aaake, kittee-wa-aaake’ sound, especially during the breeding season.
