Showing posts with label black-throated loon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label black-throated loon. Show all posts

Black-throated loon images

   ›      ›   Black-throated loon - Gavia arctica images
Taxonomic classification   < >   Images
The Black-throated loon (Gavia arctica) belongs to the family Gaviidae under the order Gaviiformes.

Black-throated loon taxonomy

The family Gaviidae was first described by Elliott Coues (September 9, 1842 – December 25, 1899), an American army surgeon, historian, ornithologist and author, in the year 1903.

The family Gaviidae is monotypic and comprises the genus Gavia. The genus Gavia was first introduced by Johann Reinhold Forster (22 October 1729 – 9 December 1798), a pastor and naturalist, in the year 1788.

The genus Gavia comprises five species, viz., Gavia stellata, Gavia pacifica, Gavia immer, Gavia adamsii and Gavia arctica.

The species Gavia arctica was first described (as Colymbus arcticus) by Carl Linnaeus (23 May1707 – 10 January 1778), a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist, in the year 1758.

The species Gavia arctica is polytypic and comprises two subspecies, viz., Gavia arctica arctica and Gavia arctica viridigularis.
Taxonomic classification
Binomial name:Gavia arctica
Species:G. arctica
Genus:Gavia
Subfamily:-
Family:Gaviidae
Order:Gaviiformes
Class:Aves
Phylum:Chordata
Kingdom:Animalia
Black-throated loon - Gavia arctica
1.Black-throated loon - Gavia arctica
Image by Francesco Veronesi


Gavia arctica
2.Black-throated loon - Gavia arctica
Image by Werner Witte

Gavia arctica
3.Black-throated loon - Gavia arctica
Image by Robert Bergman

Gavia arctica
4.Black-throated loon - Gavia arctica
Image by Steve Garvie

Gavia arctica
5.Black-throated loon - Gavia arctica
Image by Carley, Curtis

Gavia arctica
6.Black-throated loon (non-breeding) - Gavia arctica
Image by Tony Morris

Gavia arctica
7.Black-throated loon (non-breeding) - Gavia arctica
Image by Tony Morris

Gavia arctica
8.Black-throated loon (non-breeding) - Gavia arctica
Image by Tony Morris

Black-throated loon - Gavia arctica
9.Black-throated loon (non-breeding) - Gavia arctica
Image by Tony Morris
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1.Black-throated loon image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/francesco_veronesi/15195370798/ (cropped)
Author: Francesco Veronesi | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 as on 6/20/18
2.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/43577957@N04/10165313115/ (cropped)
Author: Werner Witte | License: CC BY-NC 2.0 as on 6/20/18
3.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gavia_arctica11.jpg (cropped)
Author: Robert Bergman | License: Public domain
4.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rainbirder/4676729720/in/photostream/ (cropped)
Author: Steve Garvie | License: CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 as on 6/20/18
5.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plongeon_arctique_nid.jpg (cropped)
Author: Carley, Curtis | License: Public domain
6.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonymorris/8466747858/ (cropped)
Author: Tony Morris | License: CC BY-NC 2.0 as on 6/20/18
7.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonymorris/8466755404/ (cropped)
Author: Tony Morris | License: CC BY-NC 2.0 as on 6/20/18
8.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonymorris/8468251795/ (cropped)
Author: Tony Morris | License: CC BY-NC 2.0 as on 6/20/18
9.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonymorris/8466748138/ (cropped)
Author: Tony Morris | License: CC BY-NC 2.0 as on 6/20/18
Current topic in Birds of India: Black-throated loon - Gavia arctica images.
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Black-throated loon

   ›      ›      ›   Black-throated loon - Gavia arctica.

The black-throated loon (Gavia arctica) belongs to the family Gaviidae. The black-throated loon is a migratory aquatic bird found in northern Europe, northern Asia, eastern Russia, North America and Alaska. There are two recognized subspecies of these loons.

The subspecies G. a. arctica occurs in northern Europe and northern Asia, wintering in Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas. The subspecies G. a. viridigularis is found in eastern Russia and Alaska. These birds move southwards in winter are a rare visitors to Indian waters.


The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has categorized and evaluated these loon species and has listed them as of "least concern".
Indian bird - Black-throated loon - Gavia arctica
Indian bird - Black-throated loon - Gavia arctica


Werner Witte | License: CC BY-NC 2.0 as on 7/18/18
These loons are large birds, measuring 60-75 cm in length with a wingspan of 110-130 cms. and weighing 1,300 t0 3,500 grams. Their head is dark grey, and their throat is dark grey in color. There is a distinct white and dark grey pattern on the back, shoulders and lower neck. The dagger shaped bill is dark grey and the eyes are deep red.

They feed on fish, crustaceans and mollusks. These loons are monogamous and the female incubates the eggs. Both the parents take part in feeding the chick.
Biological classification of Gavia arctica
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Gaviiformes
Family:Gaviidae
Subfamily:-
Genus:Gavia
Species:G. arctica
Binomial name:Gavia arctica
Distribution: Europe and Asia;
Feeding habits: crustaceans, fish and squid,;
IUCN status listing:Least Concern

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Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Plongeon_arctique_nid.jpg
Author: Carley, Curtis | License: public domain
Current topic in Birds of India: Black-throated loon - Gavia arctica.
Contact State Tourism or travel agents for bird watching and wildlife tours.