What are the main differences between fulmars, skuas and gulls?

Question

What are the main differences between fulmars, skuas and gulls?

Answer 1

The fulmars, although they look quite gull-like, are actually in a different Order, the Procellariiformes - along with frigate birds and albatross.

These birds, also known the tubenoses, have a special gland in their nose that filters excess salt from their blood, and expels it down their tube-like nostrils like really salty snot.  This allows them to drink seawater and survive indefinitely on the open ocean.

Skuas and gulls are both in the Order Charadriiformes - the shorebirds, but are categorized into different families.  The skuas and jaegers are mainly arctic and antarctic predators and scavengers, in the Family Stercorariidae, while the gulls and terns are cosmopolitan opportunists in the Family Laridae.

I'm not really sure what features are used to distinguish the Larids from the Stercorariids.

Answer 2

For one their names are spelled totally differently.