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.)

Campbeltown Loch, Argyll 16/12/2009	Campbeltown Loch, Argyll 16/12/2009	Campbeltown Loch, Argyll 09/12/2009	Ondveroarnes, Vesturland (West), Iceland 27/05/2009	at sea, Scilly 23/10/2009
Corsewall Pt, Dumf & Gall 05/09/2009	New Brighton, Cheshire 04/09/2009	Fowlsheugh RSPB, Aberdeenshire 11/07/2009	Farne Is., Northumbs 04/07/2009	Farne Is., Northumbs 04/07/2009

 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
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