How big is a razorbill?

1.6 lbsAdult
Razorbill/Mass

Is the razorbill endangered?

Least Concern (Population increasing)
Razorbill/Conservation status

How did the razorbill get its name?

“Auk” comes from the Old Norse alka. The largest auk was the nearly 3-foot tall Pinguinus impennis, the now extinct Great Auk. Note that binomial: the penguins, Southern hemisphere birds which are unrelated but similarly flightless and superb swimmers, were named after the Great Auk.

Where can I find razorbill?

This stocky, thick-billed auk is found only in the North Atlantic. It nests on northern islands and coasts, often in the same colonies as murres; similar to the murres, it has a longer tail, often cocked up above the water when swimming. In winter it lives in flocks well offshore.

Is a razorbill a penguin?

They’re both members of the auk family – which is as close as we get to penguins in the northern hemisphere – which lay their eggs in precarious cliff locations around our rocky northern and western coasts. Here’s a fabulous video of a razorbill in action.

Is a razorbill an auk?

The razorbill, razor-billed auk, or lesser auk (Alca torda) is a colonial seabird in the monotypic genus Alca of the family Alcidae, the auks. It is the closest living relative of the extinct great auk (Pinguinis impennis). Razorbills nest along coastal cliffs in enclosed or slightly exposed crevices.

Are razorbills rare?

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.

Can a razorbill fly?

Razorbills are primarily black with a white underside. The male and female are identical in plumage; however, males are generally larger than females. This agile bird, which is capable of both flight and diving, has a predominantly aquatic lifestyle and only comes to land in order to breed.

How fast do razorbills fly?

Ibis 97:81-117. Close ). However, on Machias Seal I., average travelling speed of seven birds with transmitters during the breeding season was only 5 km/h (Clarke 2009. Offshore movements and behavior of the Razorbill (Alca torda) in Atlantic Canada.

What kind of bird is a razorbill?

seabird
The razorbill is a medium-sized seabird. It is black above and white below. It has a thick black beak which is deep and blunt, unlike the thinner bill of the similar guillemot. It breeds around the coast of the UK, with the largest colonies in northern Scotland.

What does a razorbill look like?

The razorbill is black above and white below, with a short, thick bill that has distinguishing white lines across the end. In winter, razorbills have white faces. The similar-looking guillemot is chocolate-brown in colour, and has a longer and thinner bill.

Where do razorbills go in winter?

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.

What kind of Bill does a razorbill have?

Black back and head, white underside. Stout, deep, round-tipped bill. Throat white in nonbreeding plumage, with some white on face. Similar to nonbreeding adult, but with shorter, shallower bill without white lines or grooves.

Where does the razorbill auk live in the wild?

The razorbill, razor-billed auk, or lesser auk ( Alca torda) is a colonial seabird in the monotypic genus Alca of the family Alcidae, the auks. It is the closest living relative of the extinct great auk ( Pinguinis impennis ). Wild populations live in the subarctic waters of the Atlantic Ocean .

Which is the only living species of razorbill?

While the razorbill is the only living species, the genus Alca had a much higher diversity in the Pliocene. Some ornithologists also feel it is appropriate to retain the great auk in the genus Alca, instead of Pinguinus.

What kind of mating system does the razorbill have?

Their mating system is female-enforced monogamy; the razorbill chooses one partner 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 89-95%.