The silver-grey petrel, as Oliver has it, was met with in 1769 off the East Cape during Cook's first voyage. It was, however, not recognised as a species distinct from the common fulmar of the Arctic until Stephens in 1826 described it from the Cape Seas. The southern fulmar is very similar in appearance to the northern fulmar, although it is slightly smaller than its northern hemisphere counterpart.
The Antarctic fulmar breeds in large colonies on the islands off the Antarctic Peninsula. During the winter months, they move north away from the pack ice, reaching as far north as 10° S, following cold currents along the western coasts of southern continents. They arrive at their southern colonies and establish sites on open scree or rock ledges in October. Their nests are made of stone chips built into a rough circular shape. Eggs are laid in early December and hatch in mid-January. Only one egg is laid. Chicks fledge in early March at around 52 days old. Skuas may take some abandoned eggs and chicks, but extreme weather conditions are much more significant causes of egg and chick mortality. The fulmar, like giant petrels, is capable of spitting a foul-smelling, yellowish oil at nest intruders.
The oil comes from the bird's stomach and can be aimed with great accuracy at targets more than a metre away.
Antarctic Fulmars are gregarious birds, often travelling, feeding and resting in large flocks or rafts. Food is caught by surface-seizing and occasionally by shallow dives. Their diet consists of krill, crustaceans, and fish. They will also scavenge for carrion. They are believed to feed nocturnally, rarely following ships, as many other Antarctic bird species do.
Greytown, 2008
