Red-throated Diver or Loon (Gavia stellata) - Birds Around Me 0106

The Red‑throated Diver, known in North America as the Red‑throated Loon, is a remarkable aquatic bird of the northern hemisphere. Measuring up to 69 cm in length with a wingspan of about 1.1 m, it is the smallest of the diver family (Gaviidae), yet also the most widely distributed.  

Red-throated Diver or Loon (Gavia stellata)
Iceland, July 2025

In breeding plumage, adults display a striking rust‑red throat patch, contrasting with a sleek gray head and finely patterned back. Outside the breeding season, their plumage becomes more subdued, with mottled browns and grays that blend into coastal waters. A key field mark is their slender, slightly uptilted bill, often held pointing upwards, giving them a distinctive profile.  

The species breeds across Arctic and subarctic regions of Eurasia and North America, nesting near freshwater lakes, ponds, and tundra wetlands. Nests are simple scrapes close to water, where 1–3 eggs are laid. After breeding, Red‑throated Divers migrate south to winter in northern coastal waters, including the North Atlantic and Great Lakes.  

Expert divers, they feed primarily on fish, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates, plunging beneath the surface with agility. Unlike other loons, they are capable of taking off from land or small ponds, thanks to their lighter build.  

Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, the Red‑throated Diver has a large global population, though local declines have been noted due to habitat disturbance, pollution, and climate change.  

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Red-throated Diver or Loon (Gavia stellata)
Iceland, July 2025

Red-throated Diver or Loon (Gavia stellata)
Iceland, July 2025

Red-throated Diver or Loon (Gavia stellata)
Iceland, July 2025