Red-throated Loon

Gavia stellata

A master of both air and water, this agile diver plunges beneath Arctic waves in summer and graces coastal waters worldwide come winter.

Share this bird:

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Red-throated Loon is a sleek, medium-sized waterbird with distinctive breeding plumage. Its back is grey with white speckles, which contrast with its white underside and striking red throat patch.

In winter, the red throat disappears, replaced by a white neck and grey head. Juveniles resemble winter adults but have finer white speckling on their backs.

Size

Length

53cm to 69cm

Wingspan

106cm to 116cm

Weight

1000g to 2.5kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Grey White

Secondary Colour

Red Black

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Red-throated Loon is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Red-throated Loon is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Red-throated Loon can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Red-throated Loon can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Red-throated Loon is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Red-throated Loon is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Red-throated Loon is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Red-throated Loon is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Red-throated Loon is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Red-throated Loon is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Red-throated Loon is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Red-throated Loon is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Red-throated Loons breed in Arctic and subarctic regions across North America, Europe, and Asia. They nest near freshwater ponds but often feed in nearby marine environments.

During winter, they migrate to coastal waters in temperate regions. In North America, they're found along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, while in Europe, they frequent the North Sea and Baltic coasts.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 500 meters

Climate zones

Subarctic, Temperate, Arctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Red-throated Loon. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons