Red-throated Loon on nest
Credit: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service - Pacific Region's

North American field guide

Red-throated Loon

Gavia stellata

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Identification

Field notes

63 cm (25") Fairly common. Tundra lakes, Arctic coast; winters on east and west coasts and Great Lakes. Large diving bird with slender bill held tilted upward.

Summer: silvery gray face and sides of neck; black bill; large rusty throat patch; striped black and white lines run up back of neck; back brownish-black.

Winter: gray on back of neck gradually blends into white of throat; white underparts; blackish spotted upperparts; pale bill.

Song: rapid yelps.

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Videos

3 videos
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Red-throated Loon

2 rules
Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 3
In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?
No · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the NECK ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?
Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Upcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Duck or Goose-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?
Spring · Summer
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Northeastern Canada or United States · Northwestern Canada or United States
result:702-red-throated-loon:1:1 Source: 702 Red-throated Loon, row 1
Rule 2 13 criteria confidence 3
In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?
No · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?
Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Checkered black and white · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the NECK ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?
Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Upcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Duck or Goose-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?
Fall · Winter
result:702-red-throated-loon:2:1 Source: 702 Red-throated Loon, row 2