Photo: neekoh.fi / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Razorbill
Alca torda
Razorbill (Alca torda) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Razorbill (Alca torda) is a member of the Alcidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 726 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Alcidae Auks
- Genus Alca
- Species torda
Where it lives
Low Arctic to northern temperate North Atlantic coasts: Greenland, Iceland, British Isles to Scandinavia, northwestern France and the White Sea (northwestern Russia), northeastern Canada to Gulf of Maine
Quick facts
- Weight
- 726 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Alcidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Razorbill hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Razorbill is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Razorbill (Alca torda) belongs to the Alcidae family of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers NA, PAL low Arctic to n temperate North Atlantic coasts: Greenland, Iceland, British Isles to Scandinavia, nw France and the White Sea (nw Russia), ne Canada to Gulf of Maine.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 726 g, with a wing length of about 20.9 cm and a tail of around 9.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Razorbill?
The Razorbill is a large bird that weighs around 726 g.
Where does the Razorbill live?
The Razorbill is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering NA, PAL low Arctic to n temperate North Atlantic coasts: Greenland, Iceland, British Isles to Scandinavia, nw France and the White Sea (nw Russia), ne Canada to Gulf of Maine, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Razorbill belong to?
The Razorbill (Alca torda) belongs to the Alcidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Razorbill eat?
The Razorbill hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Razorbill migrate?
The Razorbill is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Razorbill endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Razorbill make?
1 real field recording of the Razorbill — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Razorbill's range?
The Razorbill has a mapped global range of about 1.2 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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