The razorbill is a black and white seabird that nests in colonies alongside other seabirds. It closely resembles the guillemot but can be distinguished by its darker plumage and a distinctive white stripe on its face. In the early 20th century, razorbills were extensively harvested for their eggs, meat, and feathers, leading to a significant decline in their global population.
The razorbill is the closest living relative of the great auk, which became extinct in the UK in 1840 and was last sighted in 1852 off the coast of Newfoundland.
Breeding birds: 130,000 pairs
Family: Auks, Murres, And Puffins
In breeding plumage, the razorbill has black upperparts and white underparts. Its upperwings are black, with white-tipped secondary flight feathers, while the underwings are white with blackish flight feathers.
It has a black head, chin, and throat, with a white line running from the top of the bill to the eyes. Its large bill is black, its eyes are brown, and its legs and webbed feet are dark grey.
Outside of breeding plumage, the razorbill has a white throat, cheeks, and ear coverts, and the white line on its face is absent.
Females are similar to males but slightly larger.
Juvenile razorbills resemble adults in winter plumage, though they have dark streaks on their throat, cheeks, ear coverts, and the sides of their breasts.
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The razorbill breeds from mid-March to early September. They are monogamous and mate for life, although they court several times during the breeding season to strengthen their bond. They typically raise one brood per season.
Razorbills nest in loose colonies, often alongside guillemots and other seabird species. They choose rock crevices, caves, and ledges on cliff faces near the sea, but they do not build nests, occasionally using rabbit or puffin burrows instead.
Razorbills lay a single creamy-white egg with dark brown blotches directly on the rock. Both parents take turns incubating the egg, each for 12-24 hours over a period of 35-37 days. The chick is semi-precocial, spending its first few days sheltered under the parents’ wings. Both parents share the responsibility of feeding and caring for the chick, alternating between staying at the nest and going to sea to gather food. At 17-23 days, the chick jumps from the nesting site, with the male accompanying it to sea. Razorbills reach sexual maturity between 2 and 4 years of age.
Razorbills primarily eat fish, including capelin, sandeels, codlings, sprats, and herrings, as well as crustaceans.
They forage by diving from the water’s surface, using their wings to propel themselves to depths of around 25 metres. During a single dive, they can capture and consume several fish at once, depending on their size.
Razorbills can be found around the coast of the UK all year round. Look out for them on breeding cliffs from March to July, particularly in northern Scotland.
Britain's Birds
RSPB Handbook Of British Birds
Collins Bird Guide
A pair of razorbills will mate up to 80 times a day over a 30-day period to ensure fertilisation. Females will sometimes mate with other males to guarantee success.
