Razorbill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Razorbill |
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_Skomer.jpg) |
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| On Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire, Wales | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Charadriiformes |
| Family: | Alcidae |
| Genus: | Alca |
| Species: |
A. torda
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| Binomial name | |
| Alca torda Linnaeus, 1758
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| Subspecies | |
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The razorbill (Alca torda) is a cool seabird found in the North Atlantic Ocean. It lives in groups and is the only living member of its bird family, the auks. The razorbill is a close cousin to the great auk, which is now extinct.
Razorbills are mostly black with a white belly. Both male and female razorbills look alike, but males are usually a bit bigger. These birds are great at both flying and diving! They spend most of their lives in the water. They only come to land to have their babies. Razorbills choose one partner for life. Females lay one egg each year. They build their nests on coastal cliffs in hidden spots. Both parents take turns sitting on the egg. Once the chick hatches, they both help find food for it.
Since 1918, the razorbill has been protected in the United States. Today, these birds face big challenges. Their nesting places are sometimes destroyed. Oil spills are also a threat. The quality of their food can also get worse. The number of razorbills changes over time. It went up from 2008 to 2015. Then it went down until 2021. Now, their numbers seem to be growing or staying steady. Experts think there are between 838,000 and 1,600,000 razorbills in the world.
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About Razorbill Names
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The name Alca for this type of bird was first used in 1758. It was named by a Swedish scientist named Carl Linnaeus. The name Alca comes from a Norwegian word, and torda comes from a Swedish word. Both words refer to this bird.
The razorbill (Alca torda) is the only bird left in its group, Alca. Its close relative, the great auk, died out in the mid-1800s. Razorbills and great auks belong to a larger bird group called Alcini. This group also includes the common murre and the thick-billed murre.
There are two main types of razorbills. Scientists call these "subspecies."
| Image | Subspecies | Where They Live |
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Alca torda torda | They live in the Baltic Sea, White Sea, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, and eastern North America. |