Razorbill
Image: nmsnms (cc-by-nc)
NameRazorbill
Common NameRazorbill
Scientific NameAlca torda
FamilyAlcidae
Wingspan (cm)65
Length (cm)40
Weight (g)650
Plumage DetailsBreeding adults have glossy black upperparts, head, and neck, with pure white underparts. A thin white line runs from the eye to the bill, and a prominent white vertical line crosses the bill. In winter, the throat and sides of the head behind the eye become white.
Vocalization / CallGenerally silent at sea, but at breeding colonies, they produce a variety of guttural growls, grunts, and croaking sounds, often described as 'arrr' or 'karr-karr'.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatsmarine, coastal cliffs, rocky islands
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds on rocky coasts, islands, and cliffs in the North Atlantic, including eastern North America (from eastern Canada south to Maine), Greenland, Iceland, and northern Europe (from Scandinavia to France). Winters at sea, often moving south of breeding grounds.
Identifying Featuresdeep, blunt bill with a white vertical stripe, thin white line from eye to bill (breeding plumage), black upperparts and white underparts, upright posture on land, diving seabird
Description
The Razorbill is a medium-sized seabird with a distinctive deep, blunt bill. It is a highly aquatic bird, spending most of its life at sea, expertly diving for fish. They breed in dense colonies on rocky cliffs and islands.
