Orkney Razorbills
There are about 10,000 razorbill (Alca torda) in Orkney – a member of the auk family locally called the coulter-neb or sometimes the sea crow (sea craa). They are noisy, quarrelsome birds that nest in colonies on sea cliffs or boulders undercliff between March and the end of July. They spend winters inshore or at open sea. They are black above and white below with thick, black beaks, much blunter than the similar guillemot. The beak has a neat white line across the middle. Marwick Head in the west mainland is a favourite breeding ground as is North Hill on Papa Westray and the island of Copinsay.
Orkney Razorbills photos from flickr
