Red-throated Loon
(Gavia stellata)

Summary

Picture of bird
© Ted Krug
For additional photos and vocalizations, visit Dendroica. (Link opens in a new window.)

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.

Designations

Main designations for the species
DesignationStatusDateSubspecies, population
IUCN (Global)Least concern2018 
Wild Species (Canada)Secure2015 
Bird Conservation Region StrategyPriority Species2013 

Population status

Geographic area or populationPopulation change relative to ~1970ReliabilityStatus in relation to goal
CanadaModerate IncreaseLowAt an Acceptable Level
 

Population estimate

Geographic area or populationPopulation estimate
CanadaNot yet available
 

Distribution maps

 

Migration strategy, occurrence

Short-distance migrant

Responsibility for conservation

Geographic areaResponsibility based on % of global population
CanadaTo be determined

General nesting period in Canada

Nesting period starts between early May and mid-June and ends between mid-July and early August, depending on the region. Before or after this period, the probability of an active nest is lower.
 

Conservation and management

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).

 

Bird conservation region strategies

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:

  • conservation concerns (i.e., species vulnerable due to population size, distribution, population trend, abundance, or threats)
  • stewardship responsibilities (i.e., species that typify the regional avifauna or have a large proportion of their range or population in the sub-region)
  • management concerns (i.e., species that require ongoing management because of their socio-economic importance as game species, or because of their impacts on other species or habitats)
  • other concerns (i.e., species deemed a priority by regional experts for other reasons than those listed above or because they are listed as species at risk or concern at the provincial level)

Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.

BCRs, marine biogeographic units, and sub-regions in which the species is listed as a priority
RegionSub-region and priority type
Arctic Plains and MountainsArctic Plains and Mountains, sub-region and priority type: Atlantic, NL -- Other
Gulf of St. LawrenceGulf of St. Lawrence, sub-region and priority type: Atlantic, NB -- Conservation
Gulf of St. LawrenceGulf of St. Lawrence, sub-region and priority type: Atlantic, NS -- Conservation
Gulf of St. LawrenceGulf of St. Lawrence, sub-region and priority type: Atlantic, PE -- Conservation
Newfoundland and Labrador Shelves Newfoundland and Labrador Shelves , sub-region and priority type: Atlantic, NL -- Other
Scotian ShelfScotian Shelf, sub-region and priority type: Atlantic, NB -- Conservation
Scotian ShelfScotian Shelf, sub-region and priority type: Atlantic, NS -- Conservation
Taiga Shield and Hudson PlainsTaiga Shield and Hudson Plains, sub-region and priority type: Atlantic, NL -- Other
Taiga Shield and Hudson PlainsTaiga Shield and Hudson Plains, sub-region and priority type: Ontario -- Conservation
Taiga Shield and Hudson PlainsTaiga Shield and Hudson Plains, sub-region and priority type: Prairie and Northern -- Other
 

References