Razorbill

The razorbill is a stocky, crow-sized, seabird that is found on both side of the North Atlantic. Most of the population breeds in Iceland but there are colonies in many areas of northern Europe and Canada. A few pairs still breed in Torbay among the guillemot colonies. Pairs are monogamous and nest in more sheltered spaces on the cliffs than guillemots. Chicks leave the nest when they are only about a third the size of the adult. Once widely persecuted for its eggs and as meat the species has been protected for more than a century and its numbers have mostly recovered, though it is likely that its distribution is being affected by increasing sea temperatures.

Object Summary

Accession Loan No.
73/2023/24
Collection Class
Birds
Collection Area Region
Northern Europe
Common Name
razorbill
Simple Name
bird: skeleton
Production Town
Production Person Initials
MF
Production Person Surname
MC
Production Year Low
Production Year High

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ALCIDAE: Alca torda Linnaeus: razorbill