By contrast to the previous species, Razorbill is classified as near-threatened, with a total population of some 0.7 million pairs. The range is
not as extensive, although breeding is from North-east USA to The White Sea 60% are in Iceland and a further 20% in Britain. Wintering is again pelagic but on both sides of the Atlantic from Newfoundland as far south as
south as the Mediterranean. The large bill is unique, retained in winter, the only other Alcid with a similar bill was the now extinct Great Auk. Two races inhabit different "sides" of the Atlantic,
torda in the west and islandica in Europe.
Taken Farne Islands June 2015 and Shetland October 2023
Click on the photo to return to front page or here for
HOMEPAGE
