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Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata   [Pontoppidan, 1763]
Other Names Trends & Distribution Breeding & Survival Biometrics Books & Links
Order: Gaviiformes Family: Gaviidae
BTO Codes: RH , RETDI EURING No: 20
Number in Britain: 1200 pairs (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK: AMBER
European: 3 Concern, most not in Europe; Depleted
Global: Least Concern
View video clips from IBC

Status in UK: (A)  Migrant/Resident Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies: Monotypic
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Length: 61 cm Wingspan: 111 cm Weight: M/F: 1.6 kg    
Scientific name from: L.: Gavia, a seabird described by Pliny and L.: stellaris=starry
World Distribution: BREEDS: n Eurasia & n North America, WINTERS: south to s Europe, se China and s US
Habitat: Shallow ponds & lakes
Diet: Primarily fish, captured by seizing in bill, also frogs, large invertebrates
TitBit: In Shetland this bird was considered one of the best weather indicators, short cries (or flying inland) indicated fine weather, long, plaintive ones (or flying out to sea) wet weather  
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Population and Distribution
Population Trend: Wider Countryside Report
Regional Trends: No regional trends available
Distribution: No distribution maps available
British Population Size:
    Summer: 935 to 1500 pairs in 1994
    Winter: 4850 individuals in 1980-86
    First Record: 1771 [Fossil evidence from
    Latest Survey: Gibbons, D.W. et al. (1997) Bird Study 44:194-205
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
    No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
    Summer: 12 to 42 thousand pairs
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of: WCA(I), WBD(I), Bern(II), Bonn(II), AEWA
Survey Results: BirdTrack
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Breeding and Survival
Egg Size: 75 x 46 mm Egg Weight: 83.0 g (of which 8 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records: 55   (more would be welcome!)
Clutch Size: 2 eggs 1.80 ± 0.40 (1 - 3) N = 478
Incubation: 26 - 29 days 27.21 ± 1.59 (24 - 30) N = 478 by the: Female (occ. Male)
Fledging: 47 - 54 days 50.46 ± 5.37 (43 - 60) N = 593 as: Precocial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid: 12 Mar (19 Feb - 2 May)
Number of Broods: 1
Trends in Breeding Productivity

Number Ringed: 131
Adult Survival: No data Juvenile Survival: No data
Age at First Breeding: 2 years Typical Lifespan: No data
Maximum Recorded Age: 22yr10m   (Sweden: 23yr 7m)
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Biometrics
Ring Size: Ke*
Wing Length Adult: 289.9 ± 9.7 Range 279 - 304 mm, N =21
Juvenile: Insufficient Data.
Male: Insufficient Data
Female: Insufficient Data
Weight Adult: 1.68 ± 0.21 Range 1.43 - 2.03 kg , N =20
Juvenile: Insufficient Data.
Male: Insufficient Data
Female: Insufficient Data
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
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Other Names
Red-throated Loon
Gaelic: Learga-ruadh Welsh: Trochydd Gyddfgoch
Danish: Rřdstrubet lom Dutch: Roodkeelduiker
Finnish: Kaakkuri French: Plongeon catmarin
German: Sterntaucher Hungarian: Északi búvár
Icelandic: Lómur Irish: Lóma Rua
Italian: Strolaga minore Norwegian: Smĺlom
Polish: Nur rdzawoszyi Portuguese: Mobęlha-pequena
Spanish: Colimbo chico Swedish: Smĺlom
Local Names: Rain Goose
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For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
   Rankin, N. 1947 The haunts of British divers Collins, London [998 RAN]
See Also:
All About Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
Gough, G.A. et al. (1998) Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter
Wikipedia entry
State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides.com
Selected scientific papers published 1980-2005
Find more papers on Google Scholar
Find more papers on Scirus

BTO blue divider
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Email: birdfacts@bto.org

These data should be cited as:
Robinson, R.A. (2005) BirdFacts: profiles of birds occurring in Britain & Ireland (v1.22, Oct 2008). BTO Research Report 407, BTO, Thetford (http://www.bto.org/birdfacts)

 

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