# Razorbill (*Alca torda*) The Razorbill is a black-and-white seabird with a sharp bill. It loves to dive for fish in the cold ocean waters! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Coastal cliffs and ocean waters - **Also known as:** Common Razorbill, Torda ![Razorbill](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426828/objects/4627.jpg) ## Appearance The Razorbill is a medium-sized seabird with a sleek, black back and a clean white belly. Its thick, blunt black bill has a distinctive vertical white stripe near the tip, setting it apart from other auks. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Alcidae - **Genus:** Alca ## Interesting facts - A Razorbill's call is a low, rumbling purr, very different from other seabirds! - Razorbill chicks jump from cliffs at just 18 days old, before they can properly fly! - They form strong, monogamous pairs and often return to the same nest site year after year. - Young Razorbills are taken to sea by their fathers, who continue to care for them for weeks! ## Special abilities - **Underwater Flight:** Razorbill can 'fly' underwater, using its short, strong wings to propel itself in pursuit of fish. - **Saltwater Adaptability:** Razorbill has special glands that help them drink saltwater, removing excess salt from their bodies. - **Aerodynamic Diving:** Razorbill has a streamlined body shape that helps them dive deep and move efficiently through the ocean. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 38-43 cm - **Wingspan:** 60-69 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-0.75 kg - **Lifespan:** 13-25 years - **Speed:** 70 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1 - **Incubation:** 30-37 days - **Migration Distance:** 1000 km ## Diet & Feeding These agile hunters primarily eat small fish and crustaceans found in the cold ocean waters. - **Primary Foods:** Capelin, Sandlance, Atlantic Herring, Cod, Crustaceans - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Great Black-backed Gull](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-black-backed-gull) (*Larus marinus*) — Gulls are known to prey on Razorbill eggs and chicks. - **Eats:** [Arctic Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/arctic-fox) (*Vulpes lagopus*) — Foxes may raid nests on accessible cliff ledges for eggs. - **Hunts:** Capelin (*Mallotus villosus*) — Razorbills actively chase and catch capelin underwater for food. - **Hunts:** [Atlantic Herring](https://www.snappit.app/explore/atlantic-herring) (*Clupea harengus*) — Herring are a vital food source for adult and young Razorbills. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Razorbill? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Razorbill? 38-43 cm ### What is Razorbill's wingspan? 60-69 cm ### How much does Razorbill weigh? 0.5-0.75 kg ### How long does Razorbill live? 13-25 years ### How fast can Razorbill move? 70 km/h ### What does Razorbill eat? These agile hunters primarily eat small fish and crustaceans found in the cold ocean waters. ### Where is Razorbill usually found? Coastal cliffs and ocean waters ## Where to spot - [Squantum Point Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/squantum-point-park) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Cap d’Erquy–Cap Fréhel Grand Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cap-derquycap-frehel-grand-site) — Bretagne, FR · Park - [Sept-Îles National Nature Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sept-iles-national-nature-reserve) — Bretagne, FR · Park [View all places to see Razorbill](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/razorbill) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Razorbill: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/razorbill)