Red-throated Loon
Image: Michael Müller (cc-by-nc)
NameRed-throated Loon
Common NameRed-throated Loon
Scientific NameGavia stellata
FamilyGaviidae
Wingspan (cm)110
Length (cm)61
Weight (g)1850
Plumage DetailsIn breeding plumage, adults have a grey head and neck, a distinctive triangular red throat patch, and a dark grey-brown back with fine white spotting. Non-breeding adults and juveniles, as seen in the image, are paler with a greyish head and neck, white throat and belly, and a dark grey-brown back often mottled with white.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include a variety of wails, yelps, and a distinctive, often cat-like, mewing call. They also produce a series of guttural croaks and growls.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatstundra, freshwater lakes, coastal marine, estuaries
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds in the circumpolar Arctic and subarctic regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. Winters south to temperate coastal waters, large inland lakes, and estuaries.
Identifying FeaturesSmallest loon species, Slender neck, Often holds bill slightly upturned, Red throat patch (breeding plumage), Pale grey head and neck with dark back (non-breeding plumage), Flies with a distinctive 'hunch-backed' appearance
Description
The Red-throated Loon is the smallest and most slender-necked of the loon species, often seen with its bill slightly upturned. It is an agile diver, primarily feeding on fish, and breeds on small freshwater ponds in the Arctic tundra.
