Black-Throated Diver
Gavia arctica
Also known as: Black-Throated Loon, Arctic Loon
Habitat
Aquatic
Diet
VertFishScav
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
2.3 kg
About This Species
Breeds on remote, undisturbed freshwater lochs across northern Europe and Asia, where its haunting wailing calls and low-slung silhouette on open water are most often encountered in late spring and summer. In winter it moves to sheltered coastal waters and estuaries further south, where it can be picked out among other divers by its steep forehead and grey crown. Look for it diving repeatedly for fish, often surfacing well away from where it went under.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Breeding pairs are highly sensitive to disturbance and will readily abandon nests or chicks if approached too closely, so view nesting lochs from a substantial distance using a scope rather than a boat or shoreline approach, and never land on or near an occupied breeding loch.
- Several countries within its range give this species statutory nest protection that makes intentional disturbance during breeding a criminal offence, though the specific law and penalties differ by country.
- Wintering birds on the coast tolerate more distance but should still be watched without approaching directly.
Seasonal Activity
604,008 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Gaviiformes
- Family
- Gaviidae
Traits
- Diet
- VertFishScav
- Foraging
- Aquatic
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 2.3 kg
Photo
(c) Erik Eckstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Erik Eckstein
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.