The Red-throated Loon has a widespread breeding distribution in northern Canada, and winters in coastal waters off North America and Asia. Breeding surveys for this species are limited and localised. Christmas Bird Count results suggest an increase in the numbers wintering along the Atlantic coast relative to 1970, and a decrease in the numbers wintering along Canada's Pacific coast. Overall though, the species appears to have increased continentally, but survey limitations mean that this assessment is considered to be of low reliability. Threats to this species are currently unclear (Barr et al. 2000). This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
Reproductive success for this species likely varies with both predation and fluctuating environmental conditions (e.g., timing of spring thaw and fall freeze). Red-throated Loons breeding in Alaska and wintering in Asia may also be exposed to contaminants, which may impact their reproductive success (Schmutz et al. 2009). Competition for nest sites with Pacific Loons may also affect productivity (Barr et al. 2000). Climate change is expected to impact this Arctic-breeding species through changes to prey availability and habitat (Ganter and Gaston 2013). Subsistence hunting occurs in some regions, while across its range, the Red-throated Loon may be vulnerable to oil spills, mortality from entanglement in fishing nets, and potential fossil fuel development (Barr et al. 2000). The species is highly sensitive to disturbance while at sea, particularly in high traffic areas or shipping lanes (Schwemmer et al. 2011). Further threat may come from proposed off-shore wind energy development in the Mid-Atlantic, since these areas overlap with large concentrations of wintering loons, which are highly sensitive to displacement from foraging areas (e.g., Biodiversity Research Institute).
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.
