Red-throated Loon
NameRed-throated Loon
Common NameRed-throated Loon
Scientific NameGavia stellata
FamilyGaviidae
Wingspan (cm)110
Length (cm)61
Weight (g)1750
Plumage DetailsBreeding adults have a grey head and neck, a prominent red throat patch, and a dark brown back with fine white spotting. Non-breeding adults and juveniles are paler, featuring a dark grey-brown back, white underside, and a pale face and foreneck, lacking the red throat patch.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include a series of wails, moans, and a distinctive, goose-like 'aark-aark-aark' call, often given in flight. It also produces a cat-like mewing sound.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal waters, lakes, ponds, tundra
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds across the circumpolar Arctic and subarctic regions, including northern North America, Greenland, Iceland, and Eurasia. Winters along temperate coasts of North America, Europe, and Asia.
Identifying Featuresslender, upturned bill, red throat patch (breeding plumage), dark back, white belly (non-breeding plumage), smallest loon species, often holds head slightly upward
Description
The Red-throated Loon is the smallest and most slender-billed of the loon species. It is characterized by its distinctive red throat patch during breeding season and a pale, often upturned bill. This species is highly aquatic, primarily found on freshwater breeding grounds and coastal marine waters.
