The Razorbill and Common Murre occur mainly along the Atlantic coast and along some stretches of the Arctic Ocean. The range of the Common Murre also includes the Pacific Ocean. They are good swimmers and obtain their food by diving to depths that often reach 180 m (590 ft.).

These birds come to land only to nest. They nest along the coast, in colonies on cliffs or among boulders and rocks. Some Common Murre colonies are enormous and may contain nearly 400 000 birds.

Breeding females of both species each lay a single egg, which is incubated for about a month. All birds of these two species spend the rest of the year offshore in favourable feeding waters.

Razorbills are typically 43 cm (17 in.) long and have a wingspan of 63 to 68 cm (25 to 27 in.).

Common Murres range from 38 to 43 cm (15 to 17 on.) and have a wingspan of 64 to 71 cm (25 to 28 in.); females are generally smaller than males.