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Red-throated loon sounds

Gavia stellata

Listen to 3 recordings of the red-throated loon (Gavia stellata).

Listen to the red-throated loon

Red-throated Diver (Gavia stellata) (W GAVIA STELLATA R3 C8)
3:53
Red-throated Diver (Smålom) (Gavia stellata) - Tromsø, Norway 2023-07-07 (06)
0:14CC BY-SA 4.0by Ryan HodnettWikimedia Commons
0:14
Red-throated Diver (Smålom) (Gavia stellata) - Tromsø, Norway 2023-07-07 (07)
1:07CC BY-SA 4.0by Ryan HodnettWikimedia Commons
1:07

Tip: press play to see the sound's live frequency spectrum in blue over the waveform.

About the red-throated loon

The red-throated loon is a bird in the family Gaviidae (order Gaviiformes). Its conservation status on the IUCN Red List is “least concern”. Adults have a wingspan of about 104 cm and weigh around 1.7 kg.

What does the red-throated loon sound like?

Most birds have two kinds of vocalisation: songs, which are learned or innate phrases delivered mainly in spring and summer, and calls – brief contact, alarm and begging notes heard all year round. Listening for both helps with identification.

From Wikipedia

The red-throated loon (North America) or red-throated diver (Britain and Ireland) (Gavia stellata) is a migratory aquatic bird found in the Northern Hemisphere. The most widely distributed member of the loon or diver family, it breeds primarily in Arctic regions, and it winters in northern coastal waters. Ranging from 55 to 67 centimetres (22 to 26 in) in length, the red-throated loon is the smallest and lightest of the world's loons. In winter, it is a nondescript bird, greyish above, fading to white below. During the breeding season, it acquires the distinctive reddish throat patch, which is the basis for its common name. Fish form the bulk of its diet, though amphibians, invertebrates, and plant material are sometimes eaten as well. A monogamous species, red-throated loons form long-term pair bonds. Both members of the pair help to build the nest, incubate the eggs (generally two per clutch), and feed the hatched young.

Related birds in the genus Gavia

Frequently asked questions

What does a red-throated loon sound like?

You can hear 3 recordings of the red-throated loon on this page. Most birds have two kinds of vocalisation: songs, which are learned or innate phrases delivered mainly in spring and summer, and calls – brief contact, alarm and begging notes heard all year round.

Is the red-throated loon endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the red-throated loon as “least concern”.

What family does the red-throated loon belong to?

The red-throated loon (Gavia stellata) belongs to the family Gaviidae in the order Gaviiformes.

Sources & credits