Razorbill
Alca torda
Length 41cm

Easiest to see at breeding colonies where present from May to August. In summer, has black head and upperparts and white underparts. Bill large and flattened; at close range, vertical ridges and white lines can be seen. In winter, acquires partly white face; spends most of non-breeding period far out to sea and so this plumage seldom seen on healthy or live birds. Flies on whirring wings. Nests among boulders and in rock crevices on cliffed coasts, mainly in N and W Britain and Ireland. Because pairs are usually more spaced out, never as visibly numerous as puffin or guillemot. Perhaps easiest to see well at seabird colonies on Shetland Isles. Like other auks, suffers badly in oil-spill incidents. Feeds mainly on fish, including sandeels, these carried back to chick in bill.