Guillemot vs Razorbill: How to Tell Them Apart

This bird has relatively short wings, a proportionately long neck, and a straight, dark, sharp bill. The sexes are similar but plumage changes by season. In summer, birds are chocolatey brown on the head and upperparts, and birds of northern descent are darker than those from the south. The belly and breast are white but with dark flecks. Some northern birds have white markings around the eyes that are comparable to spectacles. Winter birds whiten around the throat and face, and there's a black line that runs back from the eye. Juveniles are similar to the winter adult, but they're smaller and have a shorter bill.

Predominately lives on the open ocean, heading to land for the purpose of breeding. This takes place on the edges of cliffs, and sometimes on islands near shore.

When on breeding grounds, has a nasally call, 'arrrr' that sounds similar to a growl.

In comparison to the Guillemot, the Razorbill is marginally smaller, but its neck is proportionately thicker, its head and bill larger, wings smaller and its tail longer. The Razorbill appears blacker than the Guillemot when flying. The black bill is flattened laterally, with a white vertical line near the tip. The head, neck and upperparts are black, the underparts are white, and there's a distinct white wingbar. Winter plumage is similar to summer, but the face become partly white on the throat and cheeks, and the bill is slightly smaller. Juveniles are smaller and more brown than adult birds. They have a dark head and the bill is marginally smaller.

Is at sea unless in breeding season, keeping within Europe's continental shelf; healthy birds are seldom seen close to land. Nesting takes place on rocky coasts, amongst boulders or high on cliffs.

Mostly a quiet bird, but juveniles have a rather mournful whistle, and adults croak 'caarrrr' when close to nests.