What is a black-throated loon?

Black-throated Loon (*Gavia arctica*) is a large, migratory bird of the loon family. It is most numerous in far north-central Russia and northern Canada and Alaska, and winters on the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and some northern lakes.

Description

The Black-throated loon is somewhat similar in appearance to a goose. They are generally dark bluish-gray in color, with some black tips of the feathers. The Black-throated loon is 28 to 32 inches (70 to 80 centimeters) long, and weighs approximately 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms). The adult male has a black patch below the eye that extends down the throat, with a white streak at the nape. During the breeding season the flanks and white under-belly of the male are black, and the black area extends higher on the neck and head.

The winter appearance is a paler bluish gray, with a diffuse white patch on the upper neck. The adult female has a grayish-white throat, and its white neck-patch has darker edges during breeding.

In all stages the white bill is long, straight and pointed. The eye is red.

Behaviour

The black-throated loon has excellent diving capability and forages almost exclusively on small freshwater fish, and on large aquatic invertebrates in freshwater during migration and winter. During the nesting season, they form long-term monogamous breeding pairs, and aggressively defend their territory. Black-throated loons are vocal, and calls include loud yodeling screams, gurgling whistles and wails.

Conservation status

The Black-throated Loon has a large global range, and although declining, the rate of decline is not enough to trigger conservation concern. Hence the species is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as Least Concern.