Razorbill

Razorbill, adult, breeding plumage

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Razorbill, nonbreeding plumage

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A large auk of the northern Atlantic Ocean, the Razorbill can be found offshore in winter as far south as New Jersey, and occasionally Virginia.

Description

• Medium-sized waterbird.
• Black back and head, white underside.
• Stout, deep, round-tipped bill.
• Throat white in nonbreeding plumage, with some white on face.

• Size: 43 cm (17 in)
• Wingspan: 63-68 cm (25-27 in)
• Weight: 505-890 g (17.83-31.42 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike.

Sound

Generally silent. Makes growling noises near nest.

Conservation Status

Exploitation by people for food greatly reduced Razorbill populations until the early 20th century. With protection, the species increased. Populations currently thought to be stable or increasing throughout major parts of global range.

Other Names

Petit pingouin (French)
Alca común (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• The oldest known Razorbill was a female banded as a nestling in 1962 and resighted, breeding, in 2000, 38 years later.

Sources used to construct this page:

Hipfner, J. M., and G. Chapdelaine. 2002. Razorbill (Alca torda). In The Birds of North America, No. 635 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.