The razorbill (Alca torda) is a North Atlantic seabird and the only extant member of the genus Alca in the family Alcidae. It is closely related to the extinct great auk (Pinguinus impennis) and has also been known as the “razor-billed auk” and “lesser auk.”
Razorbills are primarily black with white underparts. Males are generally larger than females, but both sexes have identical plumage. These agile birds have an aquatic lifestyle and come ashore only to breed. They are monogamous, laying one egg each year on coastal cliffs. Both parents share incubation and foraging duties for the nestling.
Currently, razorbills face threats such as habitat destruction, oil spills, and declining food quality, leading to fluctuating population numbers.
