A Comparison of Feeding Areas Used by Individual Common Murres (Uria aalge), Razorbills (Alca torda) and an Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) during the Breeding Season

-We radio-tagged and followed the movements of six Common Murres (Uria aalge), three Razorbills (Alca torda) and one Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) that were feeding young, and two Common Murres that were incubating on the Isle of May, Firth of Forth, Scotland. While there was some overlap in feeding areas among the three species, there were also marked differences. Razorbills were more likely to feed well away from the colony and, in contrast to Common Murres and the Atlantic Puffin, rarely dived close to the island. Razorbills appeared to favor areas of relatively shallow water. Individual birds did not show strong fidelity to a particular feeding area, nor did the location of feeding areas change on a day-to-day basis. Received 2 May 1989, accepted 30 August 1989.