This post was written by Audubon North Carolina Biological Technician Tara McIver. 

Recently, while I was on a shorebird survey in Masonboro Inlet, I sighted 21 Razorbills diving and swimming in the inlet. This was my first sighting -- they are magnificent birds! At first I thought they were a species of duck, but they are actually in the family Alcidae, which is comprised of puffins, murres, murrelets, auklets, auks and guillemonts.

Razorbills are a striking black and white with a unique deep, laterally compressed bill. On land, Razorbills walk like penguins. Although this species occurs frequently in the winter in cold Atlantic waters of the northeast, it is rarely seen as far south as Cape Hatteras. This year, Razorbills have been reported in unprecedented numbers as far south as the Florida Keys.

Prior to this year the entire state of Florida had only fourteen reported sightings of Razorbills. This year alone, more than 1,000 Razorbills have been sighted in Florida. In North Carolina, more than 200 Razorbills have been reported south of Cape Hatteras. Since my survey of Masonboro Inlet, I have sighted two additional Razorbills in Rich Inlet and one in Mason Inlet.

The majority of the Razorbills I have seen were first-winter birds because they lack white stripes on the bill, which adult Razorbills have in the winter. Scientists believe the Razorbill invasion is driven by the availability of food as many birds wander south in search of richer food sources. Razorbills consume schooling fish but also feed on crustaceans and polychaetes in the winter. Regardless of why the Razorbills are here, this is a truly incredible event.