BIRDS HUNTED FOR FOOD OR SPORT. 



57 



RED-THROATED LOON {Gavia stellata). 



Common or local New England names: Red-throated Diver; Little Loon; Cape Race; 

 Cape Racer; Scape-grace. 



Winter. 



Summer. 



Length. — About 25 inches. 



Adult in Summer. — Prevailing color brownish black above, varied by paler 

 and white markings; middle of crown blackish; nape, back of neck 

 and sides of breast lined with black and white; head and most of neck 

 light slate gray, fore neck with a triangular patch of bright chestnut; 

 under parts silky white; bill and feet blackish; iris red. 



Adult and Young in Winter. — Similar to the common Loon in winter, but 

 top and back of head and neck bluish gray (in the common Loon these 

 are brownish black); throat without red patch; white of throat ex- 

 tending farther up on cheeks, and back thicJdy spotted with whitish; 

 bill bluish white, darker on top; iris brown. 



Field Marks. — Rarely seen in summer plumage; in fall plumage may be 

 distinguished from the common Loon at close range by the small white 

 spots on the back and by the slender bill, which is slightly concave 

 near upper base, giving it a slightly upturned appearance. 



Notes. — A harsh gr-rga, gr-r, gr-r-ga, gr-r (Nelson). 



Season. — A common fall migrant coastwise; uncommon in late winter and 

 .spring, Augu.st to April. 



Range. — Northern part of northern hemisphere. In North America breeds 

 from northern Greenland and northern Alaska south to western Aleutian 

 Islands, New Brunswick and Newfoundland; winters from southern 

 Briti.sh Columbia to southern California, and from Maine and the 

 Great Lakes to Florida; casual far inland. 



