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Divers or loons

All four divers or loons (order Gaviiformes) are water-birds. They have legs set very far back and webbed toes, and are excellent swimmers and divers. The dense, oily plumage is impermeable to water and serves to retain their body heat. The wings are narrow, but divers fly fast, usually in a straight line; some undertake long migrations. The bill is long and pointed - well adapted for catching fish. The adult breeding plumage, from the second or third year, is black or grey with white underparts. In winter the upper parts become duller, predominantly grey. The two eggs, brown with darker spots and blotches, are laid in a simple nest on the ground. During the breeding season, the birds inhabit lakes in the northern forests and tundras of both worlds. In migration and in winter they range south to northern Africa and Japan, and in North America to Mexico, mostly along the coasts.

The handsomest of them all is the black-throated diver or loon, Gavia arctica, which weighs about 4.5 lb and is about 26 inches long. The head and hind neck are ashy grey, the throat an intense black. On a black area in the region of the shoulder blades there are large white spots crossed by black stripes. In winter the upper surface is a uniform grey, the underpats white. This colouring is characteristic of the young birds in the first and second year. The black-throated diver nests on the lakes of northern Europe, Asia and western America. It can stay under water for as long as two minutes, travelling a distance of over 500 yards during that time.

The white-bill diver or yellow-billed loon, Gavia adamsi, is the largest species of this order, weighing up to 9 lb and measuring up to 30 inches. In spring, the head and neck of adults are intense black with while spots, interrupted with black on the sides of the neck. The back is black with square while marks. The breeding range of this diver extends from north-western Canada and northern Alaska to Novaya Zemlya in Siberia. Unlike other divers it winters near the breeding grounds, ranging south only to northern Japan and south-eastern Alaska.

The red-throated diver or loon, Gavia stelata, the smallest diver, has dappled grey feathers. In breeding plumage the throat is reddish brown. It breeds in the northern regions of both worlds.

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  • Category: Birds
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