Alca torda
Definition
Noun 1. A seabird species: Alca torda is the scientific name for the razorbill, a black-and-white seabird of the auk family (Alcidae) found in the northern Atlantic Ocean. It is characterized by a deep, laterally compressed bill with a sharp cutting edge and white markings.
Usage Examples
- The Alca torda is a proficient diver, using its wings to "fly" underwater in pursuit of fish.
- Conservationists are monitoring the breeding colonies of Alca torda along the coastal cliffs.
- Unlike the extinct great auk, the Alca torda is a capable flier, though its flight appears labored.
Advanced Usage
- The term is primarily used in formal, scientific, or specialized contexts such as ornithology, wildlife biology, and conservation. In general English, the common name "razorbill" is almost always preferred.
- In taxonomic classification, is the genus and is the specific epithet. When written, the binomial name is conventionally italicized.
Variants and Related Words
- Razorbill (n): The common English name for .
- Auk (n): The family (Alcidae) of seabirds to which the razorbill belongs, which also includes puffins and guillemots.
- Alcidae (n): The scientific family name for auks.
Synonyms
- Razorbill
- (Less common) Razor-billed auk
Related Phrases and Terms
- Seabird colony: A group of seabirds, including razorbills, nesting together on cliffs or islands.
- Pelagic bird: A bird that lives primarily on the open ocean, a description that fits the outside of the breeding season.
Noun
-
black-and-white northern Atlantic auk having a compressed sharp-edged bill
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