Scientific name: Uria aalge (Pontoppidan, 1763)
Bird group: Auks
Field characters. 40 cm. Slightly larger than Razorbill, with a slender and pointed bill, a fuller chest, longer neck, browner colour on back, and with short rounded tail. In winter plumage, head becomes whiter, with white going up behind eye, and more sharply demarcated from black than in Razorbill; a black line extends backward from the eye. Flanks streaked. A bridled form occurs, which has a white ring around the eye with a white line extending backward. The underwings are white, but speckled with grey. Flight is low and fast, with very fast wingbeats. Like other auks very vulnerable to oil pollution.
Voice. Only heard at colonies, a loud 'caarrrr'. Juvenile at sea has a loud and high-pitched call.
Distribution. Increasingly common to the north. Occurs in huge colonies.
Habitat. Breeds on high rocky cliffs, winters at sea.
Food. Predominantly fish.