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Gallery
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Records through the year
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Distribution
Razorbill   Alca torda
The scarcest of the auk species on Svalbard. Most numerous on Bjørnøya, where some small colonies are established. On Spitsbergen it is much rarer. Some few birds have been recorded at five different bird cliffs on west and north Spitsbergen. The total population is probably a minimum of 100 pairs (most on Bjørnøya).   

Features: 38-43 cm, 700-890 gram. ♂=♀. The young resemble the adults when they leave the colony, but are considerably smaller. Silent, apart from low sounds at the nest site, where a deep growling «urrr» can be heard.

​Breeding: Breeds in rock crevices and other holes in bird cliffs and are therefore difficult to find.