Loons
Red-throated Loon
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Gavia stellata
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Voice
Call
Grégoire Chauvot
Call
Grégoire Chauvot
Song
Grégoire Chauvot
How to recognize it
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Smallest loon, long low body
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On water sits fairly high; thin bill often held slightly upturned
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Breeding plumage: dark grey head and neck, white underparts, red throat patch
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In flight: neck stretched forward and down, feet project well behind
About the species
The Red-throated Loon is a compact, neat-looking water hunter that sits fairly high on the water and usually seems calm and collected. In the breeding season, a rusty throat patch stands out; at other times it looks much plainer and more restrained.
It swims and dives well, taking prey underwater in silence, and when alarmed it may slip down quickly or lie almost flat on the surface. Its voice is hard to miss — from rough, goose-like cackles to mewing and wailing calls, especially around pairs and nesting territory.
It breeds on small lakes but feeds on larger lakes, rivers, and coastal waters. Fish make up most of its diet, though it also takes other aquatic food; in winter it stays along unfrozen northern shores.
Where to find
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On large city waters — along quiet canal edges, broad ponds, and sheltered bays — Red-throated Loon often sits low and still, then vanishes in a silent dive, leaving only a head or a narrow strip of back.
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Early in the morning, watch the open water beside reed fringes for its quick, shallow dives while feeding on small fish.
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During migration, one may pass over a river or waterfront alone, with the neck stretched forward and a compact, duck-like silhouette.
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In the cold season, check unfrozen stretches of big rivers and sea embankments, where pairs or small loose groups drift offshore and disappear underwater between swims.
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Gavia stellata Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Red-throated loon Encyclopedia article