Gould quoted that it was said by the islanders of St. Kilda that 'no bird is of so much use...as the Fulmar Petrel; for it supplies oil for their lamps, down for their beds, a delicacy for their tables, a balm for their wounds, and a medicine for their distempers.'

In the illustration the light-phased adult male is light silvery grey and white, the dark-phased bird behind is almost uniformly dark grey.

DISTRIBUTION: Breeds on sea cliffs and rocky islands in north Atlantic and north Pacific. Winters at sea, reaching as far south as western Europe, Japan, Hawaiian Islands, Baja California and southeast United States. Has increased markedly over last 200 years