- Alca torda
Identification
L. 38-43 cm
W. 60-69 cm
Adult Breeding
- Black upperparts
- White breast and belly
- Thick, black bill with blunt end
- White stripes on bill
- White line from eye to base of the bill
- Long, pointed tail
Non-breeding
- Black face becomes white
Similar Species
Common Guillemot, which has a long pointed bill.
Distribution
Northern Atlantic coasts, in eastern North America as far south as Maine, and in western Europe from northwestern Russia to northern France.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies are recognized:[1]
- A. t. torda - Northeast North America, Scandinavia to Murmansk and White Sea
- A. t. islandica - Iceland and British Isles to France; migrates to Mediterranean in winter.
Habitat
Breeds on islands, rocky shores and steep cliffs, usually at a lower level to the Common Guillemot. Winters on the open sea and in large estuaries.
Behaviour
Flight
Flies fast and direct low over water.
Breeding
In colonies with eggs laid on a bare rock ledge
Diet
Swims underwater to forage for food. Eats sand eels, herring, some crustaceans and marine worms.
Vocalisation
A querrulous, croaking kaargh
<flashmp3>Alca torda (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422
- Clements, JF. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019
- Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
- Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
- Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Razorbill. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 26 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Razorbill
External Links
