summer

summer winter European distribution adults at rest

Identification

The almost rectangular bill with two white lines, one vertical, one horizontal, makes the whole head of a Razorbill look chunkier than that of a Guillemot. Razorbills are also blacker and longer-tailed than Guillemots and tend to fly with their heads pointing upwards. In winter Razorbills show a black mask extending down below eye level and lack the neat brown line which leads from the eye of a Guillemot.

Habitat

Breeds on cliffs and rocky coasts. Winters at sea and around coasts.

Migration

A truly marine bird which leaves its breeding sites to winter at sea in the western Atlantic as far south as north Africa.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Razorbill is classed as Local: generally fairly regular or common species that a 'county lister' or a birding beginner might be interested in going to see. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Pt of Ayre, IOM 01/08/2010	Farne Is., Northumbs 26/06/2010	Farne Is., Northumbs 26/06/2010	Lundy, Devon 12/07/2010	Skomer, Pembrokes 05/07/2010
Skomer, Pembrokes 05/07/2010	Farne Is., Northumbs 06/07/2010	St Abbs Hd, Borders 07/07/2010	Bempton Cliffs, E Yorks 05/07/2010	Farne Is., Northumbs 07/06/2010

 View all pictures of Razorbill

Razorbill breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Britain
Denmark
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Finland
France
Germany
Greenland
Iceland
Ireland
Norway
Russia
Svalbard
Sweden

http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob6360.htm   BTO BirdFacts: Razorbill	Edit this link
	Broken link
Recommend a new link

BirdGuides Ltd are not responsible for the content of external sites. If you find a broken link, please click the appropriate "Broken link" link above`.

	RSPB: Call to end Yorkshire seabird deaths	Monday 12th January 2009
	Unnecessary suffering case against fisherman dropped by CPS on technicality.   read on
	BTO: What do Nicole Kidman and a cliff-nesting British bird have in common?	Wednesday 9th July 2008
	Remarkable results from the BTO Ringing Report   read on

 BirdGuides webzine