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Fun Facts About the Red-Throated Loon

The red-throated loon is the smallest of all the loon species. Indigenous to Europe, Asia and North America, it becomes dark gray with a red throat during the summer months. In the winter it becomes white and gray. Its migratory patterns in the United States only include parts of Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Delaware. For bird enthusiasts, there are several intriguing trivia points about this colorful bird.

Like a Helicopter
- Most loons have to get a running start on the water before they can take flight. However, the red-throated loon can jump and get right into the air if it needs to, both on water and on land. This makes it a lot less vulnerable to surprises from predators, when they occur.
Bold Females
- All other loon species feature females that remain silent while the males go berserk with their calls. However, in the case of the red-throated loon, both males and females will call -- whether in unison (or at least at the same time) or separately. Both males and females work on building the nest for the young.
Independent Children
- The red-throated loon will range far from its young in order to find fish for its young to eat. All of the other loon species will either hunt closer to home for food or carry their chicks around on their backs when traveling farther away from the nest.
Vulnerability to Oil Spills
- The red-throated loon has dwindled in population because of habitat loss resulting from oil spills. In Alaska alone, the population has shrunk by 53 percent since 1990. Species like the red-throated loon suffer because the environment takes years to recover from the damage caused by oil spills.

Animals & Science