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Razorbill（Razorbill） Photo: neekoh.fi · CC BY 2.0 ↗
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SeabirdsBreeding seabird, largely offshore outside breeding season

Alca torda

Razorbill

A black-and-white auk with a distinctive deep bill.

A recording has not been added yet. Use the identification notes below for now.

I know this bird · Record a sighting Where to look & how to find it ↓

FIELDCRAFT · FIND WITH CARE

Finding guide

Season first

Choose the season, find the habitat, then watch patiently. Search guidance is not a measure of rarity or conservation status.

When to go
Offshore all year; easiest at breeding cliffs in spring and summer
Where to start
Use public viewpoints well away from cliff edges and breeding colonies.
What to do when you arrive
In spring and summer, view black-and-white seabirds from platforms, checking the deep flattened bill and white bill marking. Stay away from nesting rocks and take care on wet paths.

Habitat and behaviour reference: BirdWatch Ireland ↗ · The practical steps are editorial advice based on the references, not live sightings.

Public visiting destinations on the island of Ireland Numbers correspond to the destination descriptions below; markers are not wildlife locations or entrance directions. 1. Rathlin West Light Seabird Centre. 1 DESTINATIONS · NOT FOR NAVIGATION
What does the map mark?

Markers show approximate public destinations or visitor bases, not individuals, nests, rare plants or exact entrances. Follow the operator’s routes and signs for access.

Base map: Natural Earth · Public domain
Destination positions: © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL

  1. Rathlin West Light Seabird Centre

    Operator or specialist guide

    The RSPB visitor guide explicitly names these seabirds. Use the managed viewpoint in spring and summer; presence is not year-round or guaranteed.

    Before you goLate spring–summer is the usual viewing season. Confirm current opening and ferries. The platform has 98 steps and is not accessible to everyone. Avoid cliff edges, burrows and closed areas.

    Official routes & visiting information ↗ Find the destination on OpenStreetMap ↗
    Destination evidence & review date

    Sources reviewed: · A review date is not a sighting date; recheck access before travelling.

SPECIES NOTESSpecies notes
01

How to identify it

Black above and white below with a deep, laterally flattened adult bill crossed by a fine white line and a white eye-to-bill line. Young have smaller bills; cheeks whiten in winter.

02

Habitat

Sea cliffs, rock faces, islands and adjacent open areas.

03

Behaviour

Dives for fish and nests in cliff crevices and on ledges.

04

When to look

Offshore all year; easiest at breeding cliffs in spring and summer

05

Where to look

Use public viewpoints well away from cliff edges and breeding colonies.

Reference photos do not show every sex, age, season or geographic form; use the identification notes too.

Further reading:BirdWatch Ireland ↗ · Wikipedia ↗

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