Razorbill

Adults have black head, back, throat, and wings, sharply contrasting with clean white underparts. They feature a thin white line running from the base of the heavy, blunt bill to the eye. In winter, the throat and sides of the head become white. Juveniles resemble winter adults with slightly shorter, less grooved bills.

Thick, compressed black bill with a vertical white line; black head and upperparts contrasting with white underparts; white facial line extending from bill to eye.

Length: 38-43 cm, Wingspan: 60-69 cm, Weight: 500-750 g

Generally silent at sea, but emits low, growling or croaking calls, grunts, and barks at the breeding colony.

Primarily small schooling fish such as sand lances, capelin, and herring, supplemented by crustaceans and marine worms. They forage by diving and "flying" underwater using their wings.

Marine pelagic environments during the non-breeding season, shifting to rocky coastal cliffs, sea stacks, and boulder fields during the breeding season.

Migratory; leaves breeding colonies in late summer to spend the winter months spread out across the open North Atlantic, moving as far south as the Mediterranean and the coast of North Carolina.

Does not build a traditional nest; instead, lays a single large egg in a deep rock crevice, under a boulder, or on a narrow cliff ledge. Both parents incubate the egg and feed the chick at sea after it leaves the cliff.

Common Murre (Uria aalge) and Thick-billed Murre, but distinguished by the Razorbill's heavier, blunt, white-grooved bill and darker black back.

Acts as an important marine predator helping control small schooling fish populations. As a colonial breeder, its guano contributes nutrients to coastal cliff ecosystems.

Near Threatened, with localized population declines due to climate change, overfishing, and oil spills.

Visit rugged coastal cliffs and offshore islands in summer. Use binoculars or a spotting scope to scan ledges where they nest alongside other alcids like puffins and guillemots.

Razorbills are monogamous and form lifelong pair bonds, returning to the exact same nest site year after year. They are the closest living relatives to the extinct Great Auk.