Razorbill auk

Biology

These birds spend the winter at sea and only head to the coast in spring to nest. Generally they mate for life and although they only meet during the breeding seasons are always able to recognise one another among the crowded colonies. They place a single egg under stones or in the cracks of rocks and over a 40-day period the parents incubate together. When the chicks are nearly three months old and still unable to fly, they bravely jump down steep cliffs to join the adults swimming in the sea. Adult birds are able to dive to depths of up to 120 metres depth and use their wings like fins under the water. Razorbills can live for up to 30 years.

Curiosities

The females lay only one egg per year, which is conical in shape preventing the egg from rolling off the edges of the rocks. Additionally the egg is attached to the rocks with guano (excrement).