Red-Throated Diver Diet and Size: Feeding Habits, Predators, and Measurements
Red-Throated Divers are easily recognisable during the breeding season by their striking red throat which is where they get their name from. They are well suited to their watery environment but can be clumsy on land.
Males and females share the same plumage and markings which can make it difficult to distinguish between the sexes. However, females are generally smaller in size than males.
In this article we’ll be looking at the dietary habits, breeding habits and conservation status of these interesting diving birds. Keep reading to find out more.
Table of Contents
The Dietary Habits Of The Red-Throated Diver
The Red-Throated Diver or Red-Throated Loon as it is called in North America, primarily feeds on fish. They are known to jump up in the air before diving underwater chasing prey.
What Does A Red-Throated Diver Eat?
The primary diet of adult Red-Throated Divers consists of small fish. They hunt by diving underwater, often pursuing their prey with agile, underwater swimming. They can remain underwater for a period of 90 seconds whilst pursuing their prey.
As well as eating fish they will also consume other aquatic life forms including; crustaceans like crabs and shrimp as well as molluscs, aquatic insects and small amphibians.
Their diet can vary depending on the availability of prey in different regions and seasons. During winter, in coastal marine environments, their diet may consist mainly of marine fish and other saltwater prey.
What To Feed A Baby Red-Throated Diver?
For the first few days of the chicks lives, the parents feed their chicks a protein rich diet consisting mainly of small aquatic invertebrates. They then progress to feeding the chicks small fish which are carried by the parents in their bills to the nest or fed directly to the chicks in the water.
The chicks are dependent on their parents for food until they are capable of diving and catching their own prey.
Breeding Habits Of Red-Throated Divers
Red-Throated Divers have fascinating breeding habits and have specific courtship behaviours. They engage in elaborate courtship displays, both on land and in water. These displays help strengthen pair bonds and ensure synchronisation of mating.
They often perform synchronised swimming, where the pair moves side by side, often dipping their heads or performing mutual head-turning movements. Vocalisations are a significant part of courtship. The male often gives a distinctive wailing or trumpeting call that can carry over long distances, especially in the quiet of Arctic regions.
The pair can also get involved in ritualised posturing, where they face each other, stretch their necks, and point their bills toward the sky or lower them to the water, accompanied by soft calls.
Do Red-Throated Divers Mate For Life?
In many cases, Red-Throated Divers form long-term pair bonds, returning to the same nesting sites with the same partner year after year, provided they both survive.
The Size & Weight Of Red-Throated Divers
Red-Throated Divers are the smallest of the UK divers and are easy to distinguish when in breeding plumage.
How Much Does A Red-Throated Diver Weigh?
Red-Throated Divers can weigh anywhere between 1.2 to 1.6 kg with males typically being larger and heavier than females.
How Big Is A Red-Throated Diver?
The average length of an adult Red-Throated Diver is around 53 to 69 cm with a wingspan of around 106 to 116 cm. Which is roughly the same length as a Common Raven only with a smaller wingspan.
Are Red-Throated Divers Under Threat?
The Red-Throated Diver is currently classified as a species of “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), meaning that the species is not considered to be at immediate risk of extinction.
However, there are several factors and threats that can impact their populations which include; habitat loss and degradation from wetland drainage, pollution and climate change. As well as human disturbance from recreational activities which can disrupt nesting sites and the accidental capture of birds in fishing nets.
Then there’s the threat caused by overfishing by humans and other bird species.
What Eats A Red-Throated Diver?
Red-Throated Divers also face the threat of predation from Gulls and Ravens which are known to prey on eggs and young chicks especially from unprotected nests.
Foxes, raccoons, rats and minks are also known to raid nests taking eggs and chicks. Plus Red-Throated Divers face threats from large fish and other aquatic mammals that prey on adults and chicks.
Where Can I See Red-Throated Divers In The UK?
Red-Throated Divers can be seen in several locations across the UK, both during their breeding season and in the winter. Here’s where you can find them;
During The Breeding Season (Spring & Summer)
- Scotland (particularly the Outer Hebrides, Shetland and Orkney Islands, as well as in the Highlands)
During The Wintering Season (Autumn & Winter)
- The South Coast (particularly Hampshire and Dorset)
- East Anglian Coasts ( Mainly Suffolk & Essex)
- The Norfolk Coast (Particularly the North Norfolk coast)
- The Yorkshire Coast (particularly Flamborough Head & Spurn Point)
- The Northumberland Coast (particularly Druridge Bay & The Holy Island)
- Northern Ireland ( particularly Lough Foyle & Lough Neagh)
Red-Throated Divers are usually found close to shore in winter, often in sheltered bays and estuaries, making them relatively accessible to birdwatchers during this period.
SEE ALSO: Pochard Life Cycle: Nest Building To Fledging (and everything in between)
Frequently Asked Questions
Red-Throated Divers breed in northern Scotland, particularly in the Orkney and Shetland Islands, the Outer Hebrides, and the northern Highlands.
Red-Throated Divers are most likely to be seen along the coasts of England during the winter season.
Red-Throated Divers are most likely to be seen around Flamborough Head & Spurn Point in Yorkshire during the winter.
