Whilst holiday videoing last week, I saw these two in the fjord near Alesund Norway. I think it's a razorbill and young. Am I right. If so, which race would they be? Thank you in advance for replies. Sorry about full zoom cropped images!
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Razorbill? And young? Alesund, Norway (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Wiganlad
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lou salomon
the birdonist
correct, ad razorbill with young.
stevethehydra
Well-known member
Wow, the young one looks a lot like a Little Auk!
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
That's what I thought it was?
That's what young Razorbills look like when they first go to sea.
Andrea Collins
Well-known member
Torda rather than islandica in Norway. The only real differences are size related. The bill of the juvenile is rather more pointed and less bulbous than the adult making the head profile rather different. It does look very Little Auk like in those pictures though!
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Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
I think it's a Little Auk but it does seem to be looking to the adult Razorbill as a chick would?
Are Razorbills so small when they set off?
Are Razorbills so small when they set off?
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Yes, and sometimes they can be smaller:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-34-j-X7eR...QJGdAzKN0/s1600/blog-razorbill-chick-8543.jpg
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PYRTLE
Old Berkshire Boy
If you are able to watch an older and wonderful BBC series, can't remember if it was The Life of Birds or similar, it showed young auks launching off the cliff face and gliding down to the water where the parents were waiting. There were a mixture of guillemots, Brunnichs mostly I think, but what was most evident is how small they were compared to the adult bird and did look like Little Auk at first glance. I'm sure this also applies to Razorbill.
Andrea Collins
Well-known member
Razorbill chicks leave their nest site and follow the adult male (occasionally the female) out to sea when they are about eighteen days old. Once on the water the chick is entirely reliant on the adult so tends to follow it fairly closely.
I think in the first photo it does look very Little Auk like though I think that is an optical illusion created by the angle it is holding its head at. The Collins Bird Guide has a picture of an adult and young Razorbill together showing how the chick can look very like Little Auk. In the pictures of Little Auk it also says to beware of confusion with baby Razorbill as does the Helm Seabirds book by Peter Harrison.
I think in the first photo it does look very Little Auk like though I think that is an optical illusion created by the angle it is holding its head at. The Collins Bird Guide has a picture of an adult and young Razorbill together showing how the chick can look very like Little Auk. In the pictures of Little Auk it also says to beware of confusion with baby Razorbill as does the Helm Seabirds book by Peter Harrison.
Mark Lew1s
My real name is Mark Lewis
Also, Alesund would be well out of range for a little auk in the breeding season - so this is definitely a razorbill.
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