Razorbill

Alca torda

By Matt

Kingdom -Animalia

Phylum - Chordata

Class - Aves

Order - Charadriformes

Family - Alicidae

Genus - Alca

Species - Torda

Physical Description

Female Weight - 1.1 pounds to 1.6 pounds.

Female wingspan - 7.2 to 8.26 in.

Male weight - 1.2 pounds to 1.6 pounds.

Male wingspan - 7.16 to 8.1 in.

Diet and Feeding Habits

Adult razor bills feed on fish that are in schools such as Capelin, Sand lace, Herrings, Sprats, and Juvenile Cod. For chicks, the parents bring one to six fish for a meal. Occasionally, they bring up to 20 fish for a meal..

Reproduction

Razor bills start laying eggs around the first week of May until the first week of June Where water temperatures are lower, egg laying is later, and obviously, where it is higher, it is earlier. Females can produce only one egg each season. Most egg laying sites are enclosed to protect the egg from predators. The egg is usually laid on bare rock
but some parents collect things to surround the egg with.

Habitat

Razor bills colonies are more often than not on cliffs and offshore islands. They breed in colonies in rocky coastal islands and on cliffs. Most breeding are are on crevices on cliffs.

Role in the Ecosystem

Razor bills are carnivores that are also eaten by other carnivores. Effect on humans: neutral, the only thing humans are using Razor bills for is for studying on bird mating behavior.

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