Gavia stellata
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~10%
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.
The red-throated loon has a large global population and a significant global range, though some populations are declining. Oil spills, habitat degradation, pollution, and fishing nets are among the major threats this species faces. Natural predators—including various gull species, and both red and Arctic foxes, will take eggs and young. The species is protected by international treaties. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Svalbard | 🇳🇴 Norway | |
| 2 | Vatnajokull National Park | 🇮🇸 Iceland | |
| 3 | Redwood National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Pacific Rim National Park Reserve | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 5 | Great Bear Rainforest | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 6 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 7 | Olympic National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Acadia National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Kenai Fjords National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | Channel Islands National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 11 | Katmai National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 12 | Cairngorms National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 13 | Kluane National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 14 | Snowdonia National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 15 | Gros Morne National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 16 | Cape Breton Highlands National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 17 | Point Pelee National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 18 | Triglav National Park | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | |
| 19 | El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Antalya | 🇹🇷 Turkey | |
| 2 | Dublin | 🇮🇪 Ireland | |
| 3 | Moscow | 🇷🇺 Russia | |
| 4 | Boston | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | San Francisco | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Rotterdam [The Hague] | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | |
| 7 | San Diego | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | New York City | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Bucharest | 🇷🇴 Romania | |
| 10 | Seattle | 🇺🇸 United States |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Red-throated Loon sighting in Gros Morne National Park on a given day, based on 25 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 106th most-seen of the 130 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Red-throated Loon in Gros Morne National Park on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between 9 am and noon
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Red-throated Loon sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
15th of 19
Of the 19 parks where we can rate Red-throated Loon sightings, Gros Morne National Park ranks 15th at under 5%. The best odds are in Svalbard (Norway, about 50%), Vatnajokull National Park (Iceland, about 40%) and Redwood National Park (United States, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Red-throated Loon is recorded against all the birds logged in Gros Morne National Park (25 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
