(Non-breeding & flight photos. Some extra info added. Referenced) |
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| + | [[Image:Razorbill.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by johnmoonie <br/>[[Farne Islands]], [[Northumberland]], June 2006]] | ||
;[[:Category:Alca|Alca]] torda | ;[[:Category:Alca|Alca]] torda | ||
| − | |||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
L. 38-43 cm<br/> | L. 38-43 cm<br/> | ||
W. 60-69 cm | W. 60-69 cm | ||
| − | |||
====Adult Breeding==== | ====Adult Breeding==== | ||
*Black upperparts | *Black upperparts | ||
| Line 14: | Line 13: | ||
====Non-breeding==== | ====Non-breeding==== | ||
*Black face becomes white | *Black face becomes white | ||
| − | + | [[Image:12300Razorbill.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Non-breeding<br />Photo by {{user|Digiscoper321|Digiscoper321}}<br />West [[Sweden]], November 2005]] | |
| + | ====Similar Species==== | ||
| + | [[Common Guillemot]], which has a long pointed bill. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
Northern Atlantic coasts, in eastern [[North America]] as far south as [[Maine]], and in western [[Europe]] from northwestern [[Russia]] to northern [[France]]. | Northern Atlantic coasts, in eastern [[North America]] as far south as [[Maine]], and in western [[Europe]] from northwestern [[Russia]] to northern [[France]]. | ||
| − | |||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
Two subspecies are recognized:<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup> | Two subspecies are recognized:<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup> | ||
* ''A. t. torda'' - Northeast [[North America]], [[Scandinavia]] to Murmansk and White Sea | * ''A. t. torda'' - Northeast [[North America]], [[Scandinavia]] to Murmansk and White Sea | ||
* ''A. t. islandica'' - [[Iceland]] and [[British Isles]] to [[France]]; migrates to Mediterranean in winter. | * ''A. t. islandica'' - [[Iceland]] and [[British Isles]] to [[France]]; migrates to Mediterranean in winter. | ||
| − | |||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| − | + | '''Breeds''' on islands, rocky shores and steep cliffs, usually at a lower level to the [[Common Guillemot]]. Winters on the open sea and in large estuaries. | |
| − | + | [[Image:IMG 2053 1-bf.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Mahsleb|Mahsleb}}<br />[[Bempton Cliffs]], [[Yorkshire]], May 2009]] | |
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| − | + | ====Flight==== | |
| − | + | Flies fast and direct low over water. | |
| + | ====Breeding==== | ||
| + | In colonies with eggs laid on a bare rock ledge | ||
| + | ====Diet==== | ||
| + | Swims underwater to forage for food. Eats sand eels, herring, some crustaceans and marine worms. | ||
==Voice== | ==Voice== | ||
| + | A querrulous, croaking ''kaargh'' | ||
<flashmp3>Alca torda (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | <flashmp3>Alca torda (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | ||
''[[Media:Alca torda (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ''[[Media:Alca torda (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ||
#{{Ref-HBWVol12}}#{{Ref-Clements6thOct07}} | #{{Ref-HBWVol12}}#{{Ref-Clements6thOct07}} | ||
| − | {{Ref}} | + | #Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966 |
| + | #Collins Field Guide 5th Edition | ||
| + | #Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6 | ||
| + | {{Ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Alca+torda}} | {{GSearch|Alca+torda}} | ||
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Alca]] | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Alca]] | ||
Revision as of 17:11, 18 June 2009
- Alca torda
Identification
L. 38-43 cm
W. 60-69 cm
Adult Breeding
- Black upperparts
- White breast and belly
- Thick, black bill with blunt end
- White stripes on bill
- White line from eye to base of the bill
- Long, pointed tail
Non-breeding
- Black face becomes white
Similar Species
Common Guillemot, which has a long pointed bill.
Distribution
Northern Atlantic coasts, in eastern North America as far south as Maine, and in western Europe from northwestern Russia to northern France.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies are recognized:[1]
- A. t. torda - Northeast North America, Scandinavia to Murmansk and White Sea
- A. t. islandica - Iceland and British Isles to France; migrates to Mediterranean in winter.
Habitat
Breeds on islands, rocky shores and steep cliffs, usually at a lower level to the Common Guillemot. Winters on the open sea and in large estuaries.
Behaviour
Flight
Flies fast and direct low over water.
Breeding
In colonies with eggs laid on a bare rock ledge
Diet
Swims underwater to forage for food. Eats sand eels, herring, some crustaceans and marine worms.
Voice
A querrulous, croaking kaargh
<flashmp3>Alca torda (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422
- Clements, JF. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019
- Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
- Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
- Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Razorbill. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Razorbill
