Page 60 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

DIVERS AND GREBES
Order Gaviiformes Family Gaviidae Species Gavia immer
Great Northern Diver dark crown

long,
heavy
blackish bill
hindneck
drooped broad black neck-band
neck body
white
ADULT face
(SUMMER)

trailing slender
legs wings
ADULT
(WINTER) nape darker ADULT (MOULTING TO WINTER) black
than back head
IN FLIGHT evenly white-
barred back chequered back
dark collar

striped
white collar
JUVENILE ADULT (SUMMER)
ne of the largest divers, the Great Northern Diver has
Oaheavy, dagger-like bill, and often an angular head shape FLIGHT: flies low and direct; typical long, slender
with a “bump” on the forehead. It is a splendidly chequered wings of diver, legs trailing, neck drooped.
bird in breeding plumage. In winter, its large size, very broad
body, heavy bill, and dark nape (while the barred back is
paler) are distinguishing features.A young Cormorant
might be taken for it, or vice versa, in a poor view.
The Great Northern Diver typically swims very
low, back often awash.
VOICE Wolf-like wailing and tremulous
laughing notes in summer; silent in winter.
NESTING Shallow scrape on water’s edge;
2 eggs; 1 brood;April–June.
FEEDING Feeds on large fish, crabs, and other FLAPPING WINGS
aquatic life, often bringing big flatfish to surface The Great Northern Diver, like most other divers, often sits up on the
after long dive. water and flaps its wings, revealing its white underparts.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds on larger lakes in Iceland.
CORMORANT slimmer bill Scarce in winter but widespread
immature, similar slightly
to adult winter; hooked paler on wide estuaries, in broad, sandy
see p.72 bill head coastal bays, and also on wilder,
open water in W Europe; rare
inland on bigger reservoirs or
flooded pits.
BLACK-THROATED DIVER summer, Seen in the UK
similar to adult summer; see p.57 JF M A M J J AS ON D
Length 70–80cm (28–32in) Wingspan 1.27–1.47m (4 1 ⁄4 –4 3 ⁄4ft) Weight 3–4kg (6 1 ⁄2 –8 3 ⁄4lb)
Social Solitary Lifespan 10–20 years Status Secure†
58