Fauna
Bird

Razorbill

Alca torda

Also known as Razor-billed Auk, Lesser Auk

Razorbills are agile pursuit-divers that fly underwater using compact wings, plunging to depths exceeding 100 meters in search of schooling forage fish. Pairs mate for life and nest in noisy colonies on rocky sea cliffs, greeting each other with ritualized head-bowing and bill-tapping displays. At around three weeks old, chicks leap from high ledges into the churning ocean below and swim far offshore alongside their fathers before they are fully fledged.

SeabirdPelagicColonial
Razorbill reference1 / 7
(c) Melissa McMasters, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Near ThreatenedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNear ThreatenedRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyLesser Sandeel, Atlantic Herring, Capelin
Predators
  • Great Black-backed Gull
  • Peregrine Falcon
  • Arctic Fox
ThreatsOverfishing, climate-driven prey shifts, oil spills, and commercial gillnet entanglement
HabitatsOpen ocean waters, rocky sea cliffs, boulder screes, and offshore islands
Life span20–25 years
Classification
  1. OrderCharadriiformes
  2. FamilyAlcidae
  3. GenusAlca
  4. SpeciesAlca torda
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe from clifftops or boats at a respectful distance.
What to notice
Look for a chunky black-and-white seabird with a deep, laterally compressed bill marked by a bright white vertical line.
Support conservation
Maintain at least 50 meters distance on foot or by boat, avoiding sudden movements near active cliff nests.
Responsible observation
  • Viewing Etiquette: Stay well back from cliff edges and keep noise minimal to avoid flushing nesting pairs.
  • Best Timing: Visit breeding cliffs between May and July when parents carry mouthfuls of fish to young.
  • Optics: Use a spotting scope or telephoto lens from a boat to study bill markings without disturbance.
Related species
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…