Razorbill
A species of Razorbills Scientific name : Alca torda Genus : Razorbills
Razorbill, A species of Razorbills
Botanical name: Alca torda
Genus: Razorbills
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Description People often ask General Info
Photo By Francesco Veronesi , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The razorbill has a white belly and a black head, neck, back, and feet during the breeding season. A thin white line also extends from the eyes to the end of the bill. Its head is darker than that of a common murre. During the non-breeding season, the throat and face behind the eye become white, and the white line on the face and bill becomes less prominent. The bill is black, deep and laterally compressed, with a blunt end. It has several vertical grooves or furrows near the curved tip, one of them adorned with a white, broken vertical line. The bill is thinner and the grooves are less marked during the non-breeding season. It is a large and thick-set bird, for an alcid, and its mean weight ranges from 505 to 890 g (17.8 to 31.4 oz). The female and male adults are very much alike, having only small differences such as wing length. It is 37–39 cm in body length, the wing length of adult males ranges from 201–216 mm (7.9–8.5 in) while that of females ranges from 201 to 213 mm (7.9 to 8.4 in). During incubation, this species has a horizontal stance and the tail feathers are slightly longer in the center in comparison to other alcids. This makes the razorbill have a distinctly long tail which is not common for an auk. In-flight, the feet do not protrude beyond the tail. Their mating system is female-enforced monogamy; the razorbill pairs for life. It nests in open or hidden crevices among cliffs and boulders. It is a colonial breeder and only comes to land to breed. The annual survival rate of the razorbill is between 89 and 95%. Though the razorbill's average lifespan is roughly 13 years, a bird ringed in the UK in 1967 survived for at least 41 years—a record for the species. 
Size
41 - 46 cm
Colors
Black
White
Life Expectancy
20 years
Nest Placement
Cliff
Feeding Habits
Razorbill primarily consume small schooling fish, diving to catch them, often less than 100 feet deep. Using wing-propelled underwater 'flight' and steering with feet, razorbill seize fish while ascending. Prey includes capelin, sand lance, juvenile cod, sprats, and herring, sometimes crustaceans and polychaetes. They can carry multiple fish to chicks using serrated upper jaws.
Habitat
Razorbill predominantly inhabit the cold, marine environments of the North Atlantic. They are particularly drawn to islands, rocky shores, and coastal cliffs suitable for breeding, at latitudes ranging from sub-arctic to boreal regions. Although they can tolerate a wide range of water salinity, they prefer ocean surface temperatures below 15°C and typically stay well south of sea ice. These birds forage over the continental shelf or slope in water often less than 130 feet deep, seeking areas where prey is concentrated like shoals or where water masses meet. During breeding season, razorbill are found closer to their cliffside nesting sites within estuaries or by the sea, while nonbreeding periods see them more widespread and nomadic in search of food.
Nest Behavior
Razorbill's nesting involves males selecting sites and scraping a shallow nest. Breeding starts in late spring; they lay one egg per breeding season. Both parents incubate and care for the young, demonstrating strong biparental care.
Nest Characteristics
Razorbill typically select nest sites on windward slopes, rocky islands, steep cliffs, or among boulders, sometimes using old Atlantic Puffin burrows. Their nests are simple scrapes, often lined with pebbles, vegetation, feathers, bones, or shells, and measure around 11.8 inches by 7.5 inches.
Dite type
Piscivorous
People often ask
General Info
Behavior
Razorbill exhibit monogamous pair bonds, often mating for life, and are characterized by longevity. Maturity involves initial courtship rehearsals, where potential mates engage in unique 'ecstatic' displays embodying bill-raising and vibrant mouth colors to attract a partner. Subsequently, bill touching and mutual preening solidify pair bonds. Shared parental responsibilities include both incubation and chick rearing, with vigilant mate guarding. Foraging expeditions can extend over 60 miles to nourish offspring. Post-fledging, male razorbill escort their young to sea, ensuring their transition to independence. Outside breeding, razorbill congregate in prey-rich sea flocks.
Distribution Area
Razorbills are distributed across the North Atlantic; the world population of razorbills is estimated to be at less than 1,000,000 breeding pairs, making them among the rarest auks in the world (Chapdelaine et al. 2001). Approximately half of the breeding pairs occur in Iceland. Razorbills thrive at water surface temperatures below 15 °C. They are often seen with other larger auks, such as the thick-billed murre and common murre. However, unlike other auks, they commonly move into larger estuaries with lower salinity levels to feed. These birds are distributed across sub-arctic and boreal waters of the Atlantic. Their breeding habitat is islands, rocky shores, and cliffs on northern Atlantic coasts, in eastern North America as far south as Maine, and in western Europe from northwestern Russia to northern France. North American birds migrate offshore and south, ranging from the Labrador Sea south to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland to New England. Eurasian birds also winter at sea, with some moving south as far as the western Mediterranean. Approximately 60 to 70% of the entire razorbill population breeds in Iceland. Razorbill colonies include (north to south): Grímsey, Iceland (66°33' N) Látrabjarg, Iceland (65°30' N) - 230,000 pairs, about 40% of the global population (mid-1990s estimate). Breeding season June - July. Runde, Norway (62°24' N) - 3,000 pairs Staple Island, Outer Farne Islands, UK (55°38' N) - 20,000 pairs, breeding season May to mid-July. Bempton Cliffs, [Flamborough and Filey Coast Special Protection Area]United Kingdom (54°14’ N) - 20,000 pairs from March to mid-July. Heligoland, Germany (54°10' N) - near the southern limit in Europe, a few pairs only Gannet Islands, Canada (53°58' N) - 9,800 pairs Funk Island, Canada (49°45' N) Baccalieu Island, Canada (48°07' N) Witless Bay, Canada (47°13' N) Cape St. Mary's, Canada (46°49' N)
Species Status
In the early 20th century, razorbills were harvested for eggs, meat and feathers. This greatly decreased the global population. In 1917, they were finally protected by the “Migratory Bird Treaty Act” which reduced hunting. Other threatening interactions include oil pollution which can damage breeding sites. Any damage to breeding sites can reduce possible nest sites and affect reproduction of the species. Commercial fishing affects populations because razorbills can become tangled in nets. Overfishing also decreases the abundance of razorbill prey and thus affects their survival.
Scientific Classification
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