Red-throated Loon

Gavia stellata

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
ABNBA01010
Common Name: 
Red-throated Loon
Scientific Name: 
Gavia stellata
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Bird
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Aves
Order: 
Gaviiformes
Family: 
Gaviidae
References: 
B004
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

at least 2 years
References: 
MAF10

Longevity

unknown, oldest banded bird 23.7 years
References: 
CS17
Habitat
Aleutian islands and southern coast of Alaska and coastal from southern Canada to Mexico
References: 
B004
H108
CS17
Distribution

Ecozones

Arctic Cordillera, Northern Arctic, Southern Arctic, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Plains
References: 
B004

Distribution

0.83 (B004); range cover ~95% of total NT area, range possibly covers 100% of NT. Range extent visually estimated from range map in "Distribution of birds in NWT & Nunavut: 2009 Review" (CWS).
Score: 
G
References: 
B004
Winter Distribution Description: 
coastal from southern Canada to Mexico

Number of Occurrences

large extent of breeding range and dispersed nesting habit suggest large number of occurrences
References: 
H108

Historical Distribution

all - except cordillera and a small portion of extreme southwestern Mackenzie
References: 
B004

Area of Occupancy

presumed stable
Score: 
-
Population

Population Size

2,050 for the Inuvialuit Settlement Region
Score: 
E
References: 
R262

Density

usually ones or twos but larger for feeding;lone pairs
Trends

Trends

decline over the past 20 years (since the 1970's) but more recent surveys have shown an increase in numbers. Most of the deccline occurring in western tundra (Environment Canada. 2005. Conservation Status assessment Comments: 1st draft North American Waterbird Conservation Plan-Marshbirds: Red-throated Loon. ).
Threats

Threats

Recent threats are impacts from off-shore oil and gas development and supporting activities (R263), May be highly sensitive to alteration to marine environments based on their life history preferences (. RTLO has seen declines in the past causing an increase in conservation concerns.
Score: 
C
References: 
R263
A383

Intrinsic Vulnerability

threats likely to occur on wintering and migration habitat - oil spills, marine pollution, overfishing;threats to habitat likely to occur on migration and wintering areas
Score: 
-
References: 
R263
A383
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
S Rank: 
S4
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by Committee, Vicky Jonhston, Leslie Wakelyn, Suzanne Carriere, Jim Hines, Mike Fournier in 2000. Reviewed in 2005 by J. Hines and C. Swoboda based on printed literature only, no change in status; Reviewed in 2010;no change ; Reviewed by Ian Fife and Cindy Wood CWS in 2015, no change
Last Updated: 
February 9, 2015

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Palmer, R.S. (1976) Handbook of North American Birds - Loons through Flamingos. Yale University Press Volume 1 CWS library. Yellowknife - MAF10 Return

Ecozones

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Habitat

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • Fournier M.A. (1999) Personal Communication. - H108 Return
  • Barr, J. F., C. Eberl, and J. W. McIntyre (2000) Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) in Birds of North America. The Academy of Natural Sciences and The American Ornithologists' Union No. 513 - CS17 Return

Historical Distribution

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Dickson, D.L. and J. Beaubier. (2011) Technical Report Series Number 517, Canadian Wildlife Service, Edmonton, Alberta. Vi + 38p. - R263 Return
  • Schmutz, J.A. (2014) Waterbirds. 37(sp1):118-124.) - A383 Return

Longevity

  • Barr, J. F., C. Eberl, and J. W. McIntyre (2000) Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) in Birds of North America. The Academy of Natural Sciences and The American Ornithologists' Union No. 513 - CS17 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

American Ornithologists' Union (1998) Check-List of North American Birds. A.O.U. Seventh Edition - MAF6 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Fournier M.A. (1999) Personal Communication. - H108 Return

Population Size

Groves, D.J. and E.J. Mallek. 2011. Migratory Bird Survey in the Western Canadian Arctic 2010. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2011) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov/alaska/mbsp/mbm/waterfowl/pdf/canadian_arctic_survey_rept_2010.pdf - R262 Return

Range Extent

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Taxonomy

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Threats

  • Dickson, D.L. and J. Beaubier. (2011) Technical Report Series Number 517, Canadian Wildlife Service, Edmonton, Alberta. Vi + 38p. - R263 Return
  • Schmutz, J.A. (2014) Waterbirds. 37(sp1):118-124.) - A383 Return