Birds · Gaviiformes · Gaviidae

Black-throated Diver

Gavia arctica

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The black-throated diver is a diving bird with a pearl-grey neck and a chequered black-and-white back in the breeding season. Its legs are set so far back on its body that on land it can barely walk: it drags itself along on its belly, which is why it builds its nest within centimetres of the water. It dives to more than forty metres in pursuit of fish. Its call, a long wailing yodel, is one of the characteristic sounds of the boreal lakes.

Weight

1.3 kg – 3.4 kg

Size

58 cm – 77 cm

Lifespan

28 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

TundraOceanFreshwaterCarnivore Diurnal In pairs Bird Tundra Ocean Freshwater

23countries 6parks2same family

Fun facts

Its bones are partly solid, unlike the hollow bones of almost all birds: that density reduces buoyancy and lets it dive effortlessly, but it means a take-off run of tens of metres across the water.
On land it is almost helpless: its legs are set so far back that it cannot walk upright, and it nests within a metre of the shore because it cannot get any further.
The chicks ride on their parents' backs for the first few weeks, sheltered from the cold water and from large fish and raptors.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Deep lakes of the taiga and tundra for breeding; sea coasts and bays for wintering
Sexual maturity: 3 years
Gestation / incubation: 29 days
Litter / clutch size: 1.74 (average)

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavia_arctica