Dieren en planten
Red-throated diver
size:
53-69 centimeters; 106-116 centimeters wingspan
color (adults):
summer - red throat patch, dark mantle, grey head and neck, white belly; black bill; red eyes;
winter - mainly grey-white
food:
fish, crustaceans, snails, amphibians
threats:
mankind due to oil spills, loss of or degrading habitat, fishing nets, mercury pollution
Dutch status:
migratory and winter guest
habitat
nests within half meter from small pond edge
reproduction:
2 eggs; maturity: 2 years
life span:
unknown (maximum known age: +23.5 years)
winter home:
North Sea and further south
- Dut: Roodkeelduiker
- Eng: Red-throated Diver
- Fren: Plongeon catmarin
- Ger: Sterntaucher
- Dan: Rødstrubet Lom
- Nor: Smilom
- Frisian: Lytse Sédúker
- Ital: Strolaga minore
- Lat: Gavia stellata
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| Red-throated diverBecause red-throated divers lie deep in the water, only their dark grey back of their body is visible. With their short webbed feet located close to their tail end, they are terrific swimmers and divers, catching and consuming their prey underwater. Only larger prey are carried to the surface. This bird was used for predicting the weather on the Shetlands: flying inland or short cries meant good weather; flying to sea or long cries predicted wet weather. |
- Oil birds
- Distribution of divers in the North Sea area
- Distribution of divers, North Sea area, Ecomare
Red-throated divers breed in the vicinity of ponds and inland lakes in Iceland, Greenland, Scotland and Scandinavia. After nesting season, they migrate in September to the North Sea to overwinter. Large numbers of red-throated divers are then found along the coast of the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark. Smaller numbers can be found along the British coast. In April, the birds return to their nesting grounds.
- Protection
