Razorbill

Scientific name   

Alca Torda

Gaelic name                    

Coltraichen

Physical Description

Razorbills are black above, white below. They really look like Guillemots but Razorbills are blacker and their beak is thick.

They can measure 37 to 42 cm tall and can weigh 500 to 750 g (= 13 tennis balls).

They can live up to 20 years.

Feeding

Razorbills eat small fish especially sand eels, sprats, herrings, sometimes crustaceans and molluscs.

Behaviour

Razorbills live in colonies. They are very noisy with quarrels disputing territories between neighbours or intruders.

They come on land (rocky cliffs) only to nest, spending the rest of their life at sea.

Females lay one egg onto cliff ledges; its pear shape prevents it from rolling off.

Usually you can see them at the surface of the water flying in colony and making a "V".

As Guillemots, Razorbills dive to obtain food. As Puffins, adults Razorbills can stock some fish in their beak.

Threats

Razorbills are threatened by oil spills, fishing nets and egg collectors.

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