Jamie Lafferty

Razorbills

About the Razorbill

Razorbills (Alca torda) are striking seabirds known for their distinctive black and white plumage and thick, black beaks with a white line.

Razorbills have black upperparts and white underparts, with a black head and neck during the breeding season. Their thick, blunt beak is black, with a white vertical line near the tip. Outside the breeding season, their face becomes whiter.

Razorbills are excellent divers, using their wings to propel themselves underwater. They primarily feed on small fish such as sand eels, herring, and sprats, and sometimes on crustaceans and squid.

Commonality of Razorbills

They are migratory, spending the winter months at sea, often far from land.

Protection & Threats

The global population of razorbills is estimated to be several hundred thousand individuals. The IUCN currently lists them as Least Concern, but specific regional populations may face pressures.

Establishing and maintaining protected marine and coastal areas can help safeguard important breeding and feeding habitats.