Two brief questions about tubenoses (1 Viewer)

[JayFeatherPL]

1.What is the difference between the gull's flight and the tubenoses' flight?
2.Can you easily ID a tubenose by its silhouette and flight only or do you necessarily need to see some plumage feautres, if the bird is dark or light?

 

[andrew_s]

Tubenoses are a diverse group ranging from albatrosses to storm petrels, but since you asked about distinguishing them from gulls, it's only fulmars and shearwaters that are of interest, in Europe at least.

The fight is distinctively different, being largely on stiff wings with a lot of gliding, so they can readily be distinguished from gulls 1 - 2 km out to sea.

Fulmars are a similar white/light grey colouration to many gulls, so you'd rely on flight action.
Shearwaters have dark caps & backs which additionally distinguish them from gulls (dark upper wing only), but you'd want some plumage details for distinuisheng between diggerent shearwaters.

 

[JayFeatherPL]

Tubenoses are a diverse group ranging from albatrosses to storm petrels, but since you asked about distinguishing them from gulls, it's only fulmars and shearwaters that are of interest, in Europe at least.

The fight is distinctively different, being largely on stiff wings with a lot of gliding, so they can readily be distinguished from gulls 1 - 2 km out to sea.

Fulmars are a similar white/light grey colouration to many gulls, so you'd rely on flight action.
Shearwaters have dark caps & backs which additionally distinguish them from gulls (dark upper wing only), but you'd want some plumage details for distinuisheng between diggerent shearwaters.

Can gulls also glide for a long time like shearwaters?