Fulmars

Procellarinae

Bill generally shorter than the head, moderately stout, compressed; upper mandible with the ridge formed of two generally united plates, at the anterior part of which, usually about half the length of the bill, are the nostrils; the sides separated by a groove, the tip a decurved, compressed, pointed unguis; lower mandible with the angle very long and narrow, the tip more or less decurved. Head of moderate size, ovate; neck of moderate length; body compact. Feet of ordinary length, rather slender; tibia bare below for a short space; tarsus a little compressed, anteriorly scutellate; toes four, the first extremely small and elevated, with a conical deflected claw; anterior toes webbed; the third and fourth nearly equal. Claws arched, compressed, acute. Plumage full, soft, rather compact above. Wings long, rather broad, pointed, the first quill generally longest. Tail short, of from twelve to sixteen feathers. OEsophagus very wide, often enormously dilated, especially at its lower part, stomach small, moderately muscular; intestine of moderate length; coeca rather long; cloaca oblong or globular. Trachea simple, with a single pair of inferior laryngeal muscles.

Genus I : Albatross

Dusky Albatros
Plate 407

Genus II : Jager

Richardson's Jager
Plate 272
Arctic Yager
Plate 267

Genus III : Petrel

Fork-tail Petrel
Plate 260
Least Stormy-Petrel
Plate 340

Genus IV : Shearwater

Wandering Shearwater
Plate 283
Manks Shearwater
Plate 295

About This Guide

High-resolution images courtesy of the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, Audubon, PA, and the Montgomery County, PA, Audubon Collection. Learn more about the John James Audubon Center