Home PageBirds of Devon and Cornwall Razorbill  

Latin name - Alca torda

Razorbills are true seabirds, coming ashore only to breed on rocky cliffs and stacks amongst crevices and boulders close to the sea. It reaches a length of up to 40cm long with a wingspan of up to 67cm and can live for up to 28 years. It has large, blunt, black beak with black upper-parts and white under-parts. A close inspection will reveal that the bill has two white lines, one is vertical, the other horizontal. Best time to see them is from March to the end of July when they are breeding as they seldom come inshore during the rest of the year.

Razorbill Razorbill