The Razorbill is a bird species known for its black and white coloration and distinctive thick, blunt-tipped bill. It inhabits the cold seas of the Northern Hemisphere. Its beak is black with a horizontal white stripe across the middle, and the inside of the mouth is a vivid yellow. The upper body is black, while the underparts are white. During the breeding season, the entire face is black, but in winter, the throat and sides of the face turn white.
Morphological Characteristics
The average wingspan ranges between 60–69 cm. Females weigh between 505–730 grams, while males range from 530–720 grams. Their feathers are waterproof, and with their aerodynamic body structure, they are highly effective at hunting underwater. The tail is long and pointed, usually held close to the body. The oldest recorded individual lived up to 41 years, though the average lifespan is around 13 years.
Razorbill (Pixabay)
Distribution and Habitat
The Razorbill is a species found exclusively in the Atlantic Ocean. Its breeding range lies between 73° and 43° north latitude. Breeding areas include Hudson Strait, western Greenland, the Gulf of Maine, Iceland, the British Isles, Norway, the Baltic Sea, and the White Sea coasts. 90% of the European population resides on this continent, especially concentrated in Iceland, Britain, and Scandinavian countries. In winter, it can migrate as far south as the western Mediterranean and the Azores. Its natural habitats are coastal ocean areas, sea cliffs, and offshore islands. Nests are typically built on rocky ledges, crevices, or sheltered cracks.
Behavior and Breeding
Razorbills are monogamous and reinforce pair bonds through behaviors such as mutual preening (allopreening) during the mating season. Between late April and early June, the female typically lays a single egg directly on bare rock. The incubation period lasts about 35 days, with both parents taking turns. Chicks leave the nest 17–23 days after hatching, even before they can fly, by leaping from cliffs into the sea. The male parent then guides the chick at sea. It has been observed that females may mate with other males before egg-laying and then return to their primary partner. The number of fish brought to the nest varies from 1 to 6, occasionally reaching up to 20.
Razorbill (Pixabay)
Feeding and Hunting
Razorbills have a piscivorous diet, mainly feeding on capelin (Mallotus villosus), sand lance (Ammodytes), herring (Clupea harengus), young cod, and some crustaceans. They usually catch prey at depths of 25–40 meters but have been recorded diving as deep as 120 meters. While diving, they move as if "flying underwater" by using their wings. To avoid kleptoparasitism from gulls, they often swallow their prey before surfacing. They form large foraging groups and spend a significant portion of the day searching for prey in open seas.
Conservation Status
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Razorbill is classified as "Least Concern." Although its population declined in the Gulf of St. Lawrence during the 1970s, it has shown recovery since the 1980s. The European Red List of Birds reports a notable expansion in its distribution range in recent years. The global adult population is estimated to be between 838,000 and 1,660,000 individuals, with 90% residing in Europe.
Threats
Razorbills face threats from climate change, rising sea temperatures, declining fish stocks, bycatch in fishing nets, oil spills, offshore energy installations, and human disturbance. Eggs and chicks are also vulnerable to predation by native and invasive species.
Ecosystem Role
As a carnivorous species, the Razorbill plays an important role in the marine food web by feeding on mid-water fish and small invertebrates. It also serves as prey for predators like gulls and foxes. In scientific studies, it is frequently used as a model species, especially in research on mating behavior and diving biomechanics.
