Razorbill: where and when to see them

The razorbill is a black-and-white North Atlantic auk with a deep, compressed bill crossed by a narrow white line. It nests on coastal cliffs and rocky islands, then spends much of the year at sea. Closely related to the extinct great auk, it is the only living member of its genus. From shore, breeding colonies provide the clearest opportunities to appreciate its upright posture, strong pair associations and precise landings among crowded rocks.

Size

37–39 cm body length

Weight

500–890 g

Lifespan

About 15–25 years

Status

Least Concern

Razorbills breed colonially, choosing sheltered crevices, spaces beneath boulders or protected ledges rather than building elaborate nests. Both parents incubate the single egg and provision the chick. Before it can fly, the chick leaves the nesting site and accompanies its father to sea, where care continues. Outside breeding, birds disperse across marine feeding grounds. Courtship includes mutual preening and bill contact, while established pairs may reunite across successive breeding seasons. Razorbills are monogamous, forming strong pair bonds that can last for many breeding seasons. They are known for their distinctive upright posture on land and their direct, powerful flight. Post-breeding, adults undergo a complete molt, rendering them flightless for a period, during which they remain at sea.

• The razorbill is the only living species in the genus Alca.
• It normally lays just one egg per breeding attempt.
• Chicks leave the colony before they can fly.
• The male accompanies and feeds the chick at sea after colony departure.

Late spring and summer are best for watching breeding colonies in Scotland and Norway. In New England, winter often offers more accessible coastal observations, although breeding colonies occur in Maine. Exact timing varies with latitude, colony location and annual conditions. In New England, significant numbers of razorbills are often observed during winter offshore boat trips or from headlands, particularly after storms. Migratory movements can be observed in spring and autumn along coastal flyways. Peak breeding activity in the Northern Atlantic generally occurs from May to July.

Breeding habitat consists of rocky North Atlantic islands and sea cliffs offering protected nest spaces near productive waters. Away from colonies, razorbills occupy coastal and offshore seas. They are marine birds throughout the year, not land animals beyond their nesting requirements. This pelagic seabird typically remains within the cold temperate waters of the North Atlantic, ranging from the northeastern United States and eastern Canada to Greenland, Iceland, and across northern Europe. During the non-breeding season, razorbills can be found far from shore, sometimes hundreds of kilometers out to sea, and may range further south into coastal waters. They often gather in large rafts on the water's surface before heading to their breeding colonies.

Small schooling fish, including sandeels, sprats, herring and capelin, dominate the diet according to region. Crustaceans and other marine prey are also eaten. Adults may carry several fish crosswise in the bill when returning to feed their single chick. Prey is typically caught in shallow, nearshore waters during dives, although they can forage further offshore. Their diet reflects the local abundance of small, pelagic fish. Young razorbills are fed frequently throughout the day by both parents.

Common name

Razorbill

Scientific name

Alca torda

Animal group

Birds

Size

37–39 cm body length

Weight

500–890 g

Lifespan

About 15–25 years

Status

Least Concern

Identification

Unlike common guillemots, razorbills have a deep, blunt black bill with a white vertical stripe and a longer, more pointed tail. Adult razorbills have a striking, thick black bill with a prominent white band on the upper mandible and a thinner white gape stripe at the base. Juveniles have a smaller bill without the white band and often lack the full gape stripe, making them appear somewhat different from adults. Their upperparts are uniformly black, contrasting sharply with their white underparts.