(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species loon, red-throated
Species Id M040003
Date 26 AUG 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - loon, red-throated
OTHER COMMON NAMES - red-throated diver
ELEMENT CODE - 08/02/84
AOU CODE - 06/04/85
CATEGORY - Birds
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - Chordata,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - Aves,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - Gaviiformes,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - Gaviidae,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - Gavia,
SPECIES AND SSP - stellata,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Gavia stellata
AUTHORITY - Pontoppidan (1763)
TAXONOMY REFERENCES - 624, 3950 and 3944
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
AKA red-throated diver *3950,3944*
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species loon, red-throated
Species Id M040003
Date 26 AUG 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Federal Migratory
Nongame-Protected
Biological Indicator
See Comments
REFERENCES FOR STATUS - 758, 3944 and 3950
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
Considered an important ecological indicator *3944*
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Distribution
Species loon, red-throated
Species Id M040003
Date 26 AUG 96
DISTRIBUTION
References on County Occurrence - 001, 073, 093, 095, 097, 103, 115, 117, 119, 127, 131, 133, 181, 193, 199, 650, 700, 710, 740, 800, 810, 830, CB1, CB2, CB3, AO1 and 999
References on Seasonal Occurrence - Common transient and winter resident along coast *700*
References on County Abundance - 001, 073, 103, 115, 119, 131, 133, 193, 199, 650, 700, 710, 810, CB1, CB2, CB3, AO1 and 999
REFERENCES FOR HYDROLOGIC UNIT CODES - 001, 073, 103, 115, 119, 131, 133, 193, 199, 650, 700, 710, 810, CB1, CB2, CB3, AO1 and 999
OTHER DISTRIBUTION
REFERENCES FOR OTHER DISTRIBUTION - H
Distribution - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - Aquatic
REFERENCES FOR HABITAT - 624, 1073, 3950 and 3944
LAND USE -
Wetland
Nonforested Wetland
Water
Lakes
Bays and Estuaries
Chesapeake Bay
Atlantic Ocean Coastal Waters
REFERENCES FOR LAND USE - 700, 3949, 1073 and 3950
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Marine, subtidal EM1 H
Marine, intertidal
Estuarine, subtidal
Estuarine, intertidal
Palustrine
Lacustrine, limnetic
REFERENCES FOR NWI - 700, 624, 1073, 3944, 3950 and 3948
ANIMAL/PLANT SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
Diseases and Parasites: General Reference *1901*
1157
1157
1157
REFERENCES FOR SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS - 1901
POTENTIAL NATURAL VEGETATION -
065 Northern Cordgrass Prairie (Distichlis-Spartina)
101 Oak - Hickory - Pine Forest (Quercus-Carya-Pinus)
103 Southern Floodplain Forest (Quercus-Nyssa-Taxodium)
REFERENCES FOR PNV - 624 and 700
ECOREGION -
Southeastern Mixed Forest: Flat Plains
Southeastern Mixed Forest: Irregular Plains
REFERENCES FOR ECOREGION - 624 AND 700
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species loon, red-throated
Species Id M040003
Date 26 AUG 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
Carnivore
REFERENCES FOR TROPHIC LEVEL - 1073 and 3950
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Perciformes Adult stage
General Clupeiformes Not Specified
General Gasterosteiformes Adult stage
General Pleuronectiformes Not Specified
General Salmoniformes Not Specified
General Osteichthyes Adult stage
General Osteichthyes Egg/Fetus stage
General Amphibia Adult stage
General Malacostraca Not Specified
General Crustaceans Not Specified
General Molluscs Not Specified
General Hirudineans Not Specified
General Annelids Not Specified
General Insects Not Specified
General Animals Adult stage
General Animals Egg/Fetus stage
Important Osteichthyes Adult stage
Important Animals Adult stage
Juvenile Insects Not Specified
Juvenile Malacostraca Not Specified
Juvenile Crustaceans Not Specified
Juvenile Perciformes Not Specified
Juvenile Clupeiformes Not Specified
Juvenile Gasterosteiformes Not Specified
Juvenile Pleuronectiformes Not Specified
Juvenile Salmoniformes Not Specified
Juvenile Osteichthyes Egg/Fetus stage
Juvenile Salientia Not Specified
Juvenile Amphibia Not Specified
Juvenile Molluscs Not Specified
Juvenile Hirudineans Not Specified
Juvenile Annelids Not Specified
Juvenile Animals Egg/Fetus stage
Juvenile See Comments; Food See Comments
Adult Clupeiformes Adult stage
Adult Perciformes Adult stage
Adult Pleuronectiformes Not Specified
Adult Salmoniformes Not Specified
Adult Gasterosteiformes Adult stage
Adult Osteichthyes Adult stage
Adult Osteichthyes Egg/Fetus stage
Adult Amphibia Not Specified
Adult Salientia Not Specified
Adult Insects Not Specified
Adult Malacostraca Not Specified
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species loon, red-throated
Species Id M040003
Date 26 AUG 96
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
Adult Crustaceans Not Specified
Adult Molluscs Not Specified
Adult Hirudineans Not Specified
Adult Annelids Not Specified
Adult Animals Adult stage
Adult Animals Egg/Fetus stage
Adult See Comments; Food See Comments
Adult Crustaceans Not Specified
Adult Amphibia Not Specified
REFERENCES FOR GENERAL FOOD - 3949, 1073, 3950 and 1157
REFERENCES FOR IMPORTANT FOOD - 1157, 1073 and 3950
REFERENCES FOR ADULT FOOD - 3949, 1073, 3950 and 1157
REFERENCES FOR JUVENILE FOOD - 3949, 1073, 3950 and 1157
COMMENTS ON ADULT FOOD -
9999S=feed chiefly on fish *1073,3950*
COMMENTS ON JUVENILE FOOD -
9999S=fed crustaceans and aquatic insects 1-4 days after
hatching, then small whole fish, after fledging eat diet similar to
adult *1073,3950*
Food Habits - 2 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species loon, red-throated
Species Id M040003
Date 26 AUG 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Coastal Wetlands: Coastal open fresh water
G Coastal Wetlands: Sounds and bays
G Coastal Wetlands: Regularly flooded salt marshes
G Inland Wetlands: Bogs
G Terrestrial Features: Bare ground
G Coastal Wetlands: Coastal shallow fresh marsh
G Nutrient [Phosphorus and Nitrogen]: Low nutrient concentrations [oligotroph
G Aquatic Features: Lake weed beds
G Aquatic/Terrestrial Ecotones: Woodland/water
G Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Shallows with emergent vegetation [littoral zone]
G Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Dimly-lighted region without emergent vegetation
G Terrestrial Features: Specified in Comments
LIM Terrestrial Features: Specified in Comments
LIM Inland Wetlands: Bogs
LIM Coastal Wetlands: Coastal open fresh water
LIM Coastal Wetlands: Sounds and bays
LIM Coastal Wetlands: Regularly flooded salt marshes
LIM Nutrient [Phosphorus and Nitrogen]: Low nutrient concentrations [oligotroph
LIM Aquatic Features: Lake weed beds
LIM Aquatic/Terrestrial Ecotones: Woodland/water
LIM Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Shallows with emergent vegetation [littoral zone]
LIM Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Dimly-lighted region without emergent vegetation
LIM Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Specified in Comments
LIM Coastal Wetlands: Coastal shallow fresh marsh
FA Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Shallows with emergent vegetation [littoral zone]
FA Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Dimly-lighted region without emergent vegetation
FA Nutrient [Phosphorus and Nitrogen]: Low nutrient concentrations [oligotroph
FA Coastal Wetlands: Coastal open fresh water
BA Terrestrial Features: Specified in Comments
BA Inland Wetlands: Bogs
BA Coastal Wetlands: Coastal shallow fresh marsh
BA Coastal Wetlands: Coastal open fresh water
BA Coastal Wetlands: Regularly flooded salt marshes
BA Coastal Wetlands: Sounds and bays
BA Nutrient [Phosphorus and Nitrogen]: Low nutrient concentrations [oligotroph
BA Aquatic/Terrestrial Ecotones: Woodland/water
BA Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Shallows with emergent vegetation [littoral zone]
BA Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Dimly-lighted region without emergent vegetation
BA Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Specified in Comments
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species loon, red-throated
Species Id M040003
Date 26 AUG 96
REFERENCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 624, 700, 3948, 3949, 3946, 1157, 1073, 3950 and 3944
REFERENCES FOR LIMITING ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 1073, 3950, 1157, 3949 and 3946
REFERENCES FOR FEEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 3949, 1157, 3946 and 1073
REFERENCES FOR BREEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 1073, 3950, 1157, 3949 and 3946
COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS -
00410S=uses islands as breeding sites, as well as lakes,
ponds and marshes *1073,3950,1157,3949*; 00190S=nesting density has been
linked to the abundance and availability of shallow water along the
coastline of the breeding area *3946*
COMMENTS ON FEEDING ADULT ENVIRONTAL ASSOC_ -
99999S=often feeds in the ocean *1157,1073*
COMMENTS ON BREEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
00410S=nesting occurs to some extent on islands *1073*;
00190S=nesting density has been linked to the abundance and availability
of shallow water along the coastline of the breeding grounds *3946*
Environment Associations - 2 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species loon, red-throated
Species Id M040003
Date 26 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY
ORIGIN: native *624,700*; REPRODUCTION: breeding
season=mid-May to mid-July depending upon latitude *1073,3944*;
incubation period=24-29 days *3950,3944*; reproductive periods/year=1,
unless first clutch is lost then there may be a replacement clutch
*3944*; breeding behavior=pair bonding and courtship may begin during
migration, behavior is detailed by sources *1073,3950,3944*; clutch
size=normally 2, range=1-3 *1073,3944,3948*; BEHAVIOR:
territoriality=breeding, over nest site only *3946*;
migration=breeding/wintering *624,700,758,1073,3950*; foraging
strategy/site=dives for prey in aquatic environments, during breeding
season prefers to feed in littoral zones, usually in water less than 1
meter deep, also feeds in ocean *1157,3946,1073*; nest site=lakes,
ponds, marshes, and bogs, near waters' edge, lake size is most commonly
1-5 ha, important factor in nesting distribution is nest site with at
least 2 sq km of shallow water coastline, generally only one nesting
pair per water body unless a large body of water
*3946,3946,1073,3950,3944*; development of young=precocial and
nidifugous, fledge to maturity in about 43 days *1073,3950,3944*;
parental care of young - see *3944,1073*; LIMITING FACTORS: for
breeding, availability of shallow water along coastline, low water
levels, and amount of disturbance by humans and predators
*3944,3946,3947*; POPULATIONS PARAMETERS: relative trend=see source
*3944*
REFERENCES FOR LIFE HISTORY- 624, 3947, 3948, 3946, 3950, 1073, 1157, 700, 758 and 3944
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species loon, red-throated
Species Id M040003
Date 26 AUG 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Predator control
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human use of habitats
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Beneficial Public education - publicity
Beneficial Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas
Beneficial Maintaining wilderness environment
Beneficial Maintaining unique or special habitat features [wetlands, caves,
Beneficial Maintaining/protecting riparian habitats
Beneficial Developing/maintaining brackish marsh
Beneficial Developing/maintaining saline marsh
Beneficial Developing/maintaining freshwater marsh
Beneficial Developing/maintaining/protecting wetlands
Beneficial Other management practices [specified in comments]
Adverse Draining wetlands, marshes, ponds, lakes
REFERENCES FOR BENEFICIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 3947, 3944, 3948 and 3950
REFERENCES FOR ADVERSE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 3944 and 3950
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
999(B)=breeding success and nest density may be aided by
regulation fishing and other recreational use of breeding habitat
*3944,3947*
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species loon, red-throated
Species Id M040003
Date 26 AUG 96
References
624* Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S. 1966. Birds of North
America: A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Press New York,
N.Y:340.
700* Ornithology, Virginia Society of. 1979. Virginia's
Birdlife: An Annotated Check-list. Virginia Avifauna No. 2.
Virginia Society of Ornithology Lynchburg, Va:118.
758* (ed.)1982. Fish and wildlife. 50 CFR 10 (Code of Federal
Regulations). General Serv. Admin. Washington, D.C:7.
1073* Bent, A.C. 1963. Life Histories of North American Diving
Birds. Dover Publ., Inc. New York:244.
1157* Bergman, R.D., Derkson, D.V. 1977. Observations on arctic
and red-throated loons at Storkerson Point, Alaska. Arctic
30:41-51.
1901* Fowler, M.E. 1978. Miscellaneous waterbirds (Gaviiformes,
Podicipediformes, Procellariformes, Pelicaniformes, and
Charadriiformes). Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine Fowler, M.E. W.B.
Saunders Co. Phildelphia:213-217.
3944* Bundy, G. 1976. Breeding biology of the red-throated
diver. Bird Study 23:249-256.
3946* Merrie, T.D.H. 1978. Relationship between spatial
distribution of breeding divers and the availability of fishing
waters. Bird Study 253:119-122.
3947* Booth, C.J. 1978. Breeding success of red-throated divers.
British Birds 71:44.
3948* Sage, B.L. 1976. Breeding success of red-throated divers
on Hascosay. British Birds 69:409.
3949* Norberg, R.A., Norberg, U.M. 1976. Size of fish carried by
flying red-throated divers Gavia stellata (Pont.) to nearly
fledged young in nesting tarn. Ornis Fenn. 53:92-95.
3950* Cramp, S., Simmons, K.E.L., (eds.). 1977. THE BIRDS OF THE
WESTERN PALEARTIC..
References - 1