Habitat and Distribution
The world population of Razorbills is estimated at about 500,000 to 700,000 breeding pairs. Razorbills thrive in water surface temperature below 15°C. They are often seen with other larger auks, such as the Thick-Billed Murre and Common Murre. However, unlike other auks, they commonly move into larger estuaries with lower salinity levels to feed. These birds are distributed across sub-arctic and boreal waters of the Atlantic. Their breeding habitat is islands, rocky shores and cliffs on northern Atlantic coasts, in eastern North America as far south as Maine, and in western Europe from northwestern Russia to northern France. North American birds migrate offshore and south, ranging from the Labrador Sea south to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland to New England. Eurasian birds also winter at sea, with some moving south as far as the western Mediterranean. Approximately 60 to 70 percent of the entire razorbill population breeds in Iceland. Razorbill colonies include (north to south):
- Grímsey, Iceland (66°33' N)
- Látrabjarg, Iceland (65°30' N) - 230,000 pairs, about 40% of the global population (mid-1990s estimate). Breeding season June - July.
- Runde, Norway (62°24' N) - 3,000 pairs
- Staple Island, Outer Farne Islands, UK (55°38' N) - breeding season May to mid-July.
- Heligoland, Germany (54°10' N) - near southern limit in Europe, a few pairs only
- Gannet Islands, Canada (53°58' N)
- Funk Island, Canada (49°45' N)
- Baccalieu Island, Canada (48°07' N)
- Witless Bay, Canada (47°13' N)
- Cape St. Mary's, Canada (46°49' N)
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