Wildlife
Black-throated divers are the only member of the diver bird family to have a white patch on the flank. They breed on the lakes and lochs of Europe and Asia but winter at sea off sheltered coasts. Sitting low in the water with their legs a long way back on the body they are streamlined swimmers and skillful divers, at a cost of not being able to walk well on land. Artificial floating islands have helped these birds breed where water levels are changeable.
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Bumpy landings
Young divers have to learn how to stop flying too.
Black-throated divers are one of the rarest birds in the UK. This clip shows the dramatic first landing of a youngster still struggling to learn the basics. It demonstrates how being in the right place at the right time still helps even the most experienced filmmakers come up trumps when an unexpected event plays out.
Diver chicks
A late brood leaves no time to lose for fragile birds.
A late brood leaves no time to lose for fragile birds.
Species range provided by WWF's Wildfinder.
The Black-throated diver can be found in a number of locations including: Arctic, Asia, Europe, Mediterranean, Russia, United Kingdom, Wales. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Black-throated diver distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Least Concern
Year assessed: 2009
Classified by: IUCN 3.1
The Black-throated Loon (Gavia arctica) is a migratory aquatic bird found in the northern hemisphere. The species is known as an Arctic Loon in North America and the Black-throated Diver in Eurasia, its current name is a compromise proposed by the International Ornithological Committee.
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Adapted to swimming
Carnivorous
Adapted to flying
Monogamous
Egg layer
Active at birth
Territorial