Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 16.9 in
43 cm - Wingspan
- 24.8–26.8 in
63–68 cm - Weight
- 17.8–31.4 oz
505–890 g
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.
Habitat
Ocean
Food
Fish
Schooling fish, crustaceans, and other invertebrates.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Egg Description
- Whitish with dark blotches around large end.
Nest Description
Shallow bowl of pebbles, vegetation, feathers, bones, and shells. Placed in open spaces between boulders, in cracks in rocks, caves, or on narrow cliff ledges. Nests in colonies.
Nest Placement
Cliff
Behavior
Surface Dive
Dives underwater to capture prey, using its wings to swim.
Conservation
Least Concern
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.
Credits
- 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.