Red-throated Loon

Gavia stellata

Order GAVIIFORMES - Family GAVIIDAE

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1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Habitat
7. Food
8. Behavior
9. Reproduction
10. Conservation Status
11. Other Names

The smallest of the loons, the Red-throated Loon breeds at high latitudes in North America and Eurasia. It is distinctive among loons not only in size, but also in behavior, vocalizations, locomotion, and other aspects of life history.

Cool Facts

• The Red-throated Loon, unlike other loons, does not need to patter on the water's surface on a long takeoff, but rather can take flight directly from land if necessary.
• The Red-throated Loon is the only loon that regularly forages far from its breeding territory, returning from distant lakes or the sea with fish for the young.

• Unlike other loons, the Red-throated Loon does not carry its young on its back.

• Whereas only males of other loon species vocalize, both male and female Red-throated Loons make calls, often together.

Description

• Size: 53-69 cm (21-27 in)
• Wingspan: 100-120 cm (39-47 in)
• Weight: 1000-2700 g (35.3-95.31 ounces)

• Large waterbird, small loon.
• Thin bill, usually tilted slightly upward.
• Long body slopes to rear.
• Sits low on water.
• Relatively slim proportions overall.
• Dives under water.
• Dark gray with a red throat in summer.
• Pale gray and white in winter.

Breeding (Alternate) Plumage: Plain dark upperparts. Pale gray head and neck. Fine black-and-white stripes running vertically from rear crown to nape. Red throat. White chest and belly. Bill black with light stripe along top, and pale tip. Eyes red. Legs all dark, or dark on backs and pale on front.
Nonbreeding (Basic) Plumage: White face, with white extending above eyes. Mostly white neck, except for narrow vertical band of black on hindneck. Fine white dots scattered over black back. White underparts; often shows white flanks above surface while swimming. Bill blue-gray, with dark top edge. Eyes red. Legs dark on back and gray on front.

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike, male slightly larger.

Immature

Juvenile and first-winter Red-throated Loons have dull blackish-gray upperparts with white feather edges. Front of neck is mottled, not clear white as on adult. Dark of top of head may extend to include the eyes.

Similar Species

• Cormorants have longer necks and blunt-tipped or slightly hooked bills and are not white on chest or throat.
• Common Loon has thicker bill usually held horizontally, a darker face in winter with dark encompassing the eyes, and a faint pale collar on the neck.
• Winter Pacific Loon has a mostly dark face without white behind the eye, and a distinct border between white and black on the neck. Pacific usually keeps its bill pointed horizontally, and has a barred, not spotted back.

Sound

Calls include a simple wail covering a wide range of pitches, and a complex, unnerving "roll-growl."

»listen to songs of this species

Range

Summer Range

Breeds in coastal and inland tundra in Alaska and northern Canada. Also breeds across extreme northern Europe and Russia.

Winter Range

Winters along Pacific Coast from Aleutian Islands to Baja California, and on the Atlantic Coast from southern Newfoundland to Georgia. Also winters in small numbers on the lower Great Lakes. Also on temperate near-shore waters off Europe and Asia.

Habitat

Breeds in low tundra wetlands, bogs, and ponds in forests. In migration, flocks stage on large lakes. Winters in relatively shallow, sheltered marine habitat.

Food

Marine and freshwater fish.

Behavior

Foraging

Pursues fish under water, grabs with bill.

Displays

In one territorial display, nicknamed the "penguin posture," an individual or pair of Red-throated Loons extend their bodies and necks vertically, and bow their heads and bills downward, while they tread water with their feet. One threat display involves a dive with strong kicks that send up sprays of water.

Reproduction

Nest Type

Two nest types. Some nests are made of grass and moss and placed on low shorelines; some are actually in shallow water, built up with aquatic vegetation.

Egg Description

Elongated, with variable color ranging from brown to olive, with blotches or speckles.

Clutch Size

Usually 2 eggs. Range: 1-3.

Condition at Hatching

Downy and active; capable of swimming within 12 to 24 hours.

Conservation Status

Oil spills, degradation of habitat, and entanglement in fishing nets all pose threats to the Red-throated Loon. Declines noted in Europe, Alaska, and other parts of North America; reasons not well understood.

Other Names

Plongeon catmarin (French)
Red-throated Diver (British) (English)

Sources used to construct this page:

Barr, J. F., C. Eberl, and J. W. McIntyre. 2000. Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata). In The Birds of North America, No. 513 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.