Razorbill
Photo: neekoh.fi · CC BY 2.0

Auks, Puffins, and Murres

Razorbill

Alca torda

LCLeast Concern
Family
Auks, Puffins, and Murres (Alcidae)
Order
Charadriiformes

Overview

The razorbill (Alca torda) is a North Atlantic colonial seabird and the only extant member of the genus Alca of the family Alcidae, the auks. It is the closest living relative of the extinct great auk (Pinguinus impennis). Historically, it has also been known as "auk", "razor-billed auk" and "lesser auk".
Razorbills are primarily black with a white underside.

Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Range and habitat

Sources and further reading

Last updated September 29, 2026.