BIRDS OF OREGON 



pool in the stream, and Gabrielson, standing on a 10- or ix-foot bank, 

 could see every movement in the clear water. The wings were held 

 closely pressed to the sides, and the two powerful feet struck out straight 

 backward, furnishing all the motive power. The bill, head, and neck 

 were extended straight ahead as in flight, and the bird moved through 

 the water with remarkable swiftness. Gabrielson watched it swim the 

 length of the pool possibly a dozen times. Judging by its actions and the 

 somewhat emaciated condition of the body, it was assumed that the bird 

 was sick or injured. 



No Oregon stomachs containing food are available, but those from 

 other localities examined by the Biological Survey contained remains of 

 fish, small gasteropods, and caddisfly larvae. 



Red-throated Loon: 



Gavia stellata (Pontoppidan) 



DESCRIPTION. "Adults in summer plumage: Head and neck plumbeous gray; throat 

 with a wedge-shaped patch of rich chestnut; back sooty; top of head and back of 

 neck streaked and back specked with white; under parts white. Winter plumage and 

 young: throat and fore neck white." (Bailey) Downy young: "The young loon when 

 first hatched is completely covered with short, thick, dark brown down, 'seal 

 brown' above, shading gradually to 'drab' below." (Bent) Si%e: "Length 2.4-2.7, 

 wing 10-11.50, bill 2.. 2.5." (Bailey) Nest: Usually like those of other loons, 

 although sometimes eggs are laid directly on wet muddy ground. Eggs: Usually 2., 

 ground color from "sepia" to "deep olive buff," usually irregularly spotted with 

 small spots or scattering larger spots. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds in Alaska and northern Canada. Winters southward, 

 chiefly along coast to Florida and California. In Oregon: Winter resident along 

 coast, more commonly found on larger bays. Straggles inland occasionally. 



WHILE IN OREGON, the Red-throated Loons stick very close to salt water, 

 and as they are wild and suspicious in common with most of our other 

 bay-frequenting birds observation is not easy. Considerable field work 

 needs to be carried out in the coastal waters to fill in the huge gaps in our 

 knowledge of this and other wintering waterfowl. The only inland 

 records are Suckley's (1860) report of one at The Dalles, March 2.0, 1855, 

 and a male (Gabrielson Coll. No. 2.465) taken by John Carter on the 

 Columbia River near Portland, February 7, 1933. Woodcock (1902.) re- 

 ported the species as a common coastal winter resident on the authority 

 of A. W. Anthony. Overton Dowell, Jr., took a specimen at Mercer Lake, 

 March 5, 192.2.. 



Our own records are from Netarts and Tillamook Bays in Tillamook 

 County, Coos Bay in Coos County, and Yaquina Bay in Lincoln County. 

 Doubtless the species would be found on the mouths of the Columbia, 

 Umpqua, Siuslaw, and Rogue Rivers, too, if enough field work were 



