The Red-throated Loon 



shading through finer spots on sides of neck and running out in the sparse oval spotting 

 of back and scapulars (some specimens are almost unmarked on back); underparts, 

 abruptly defined from chestnut of lower neck, white; tinder tail-coverts and band 

 across lower belly dusky, as in other loons, the included white area nearly obliterated 

 in high plumage. Bill black; feet blackish. Adult in winter and immature: Without 

 chestnut on neck; appearing much as in corresponding stage of G. immer, except that 

 the upperparts are everywhere profusely and finely spotted with white. Length 

 (av. of 10 Monterey specimens): 589.6 (23.20); wing 288 (1-1.34); bill 51.8 (2.04); 

 tarsus 72.9 (2.87). 



Recognition Marks. — Brant size; somewhat like G. pacifica, but averaging a 

 little larger; chestnut of throat distinctive in summer, and white spotting of upper- 

 parts unique in winter. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in California. Nest and eggs much as in G. immer. 

 Eggs indistinguishable from those of preceding species. Av. size 72.5 x 45 [2.85 x 

 I.77] (Bent). Index 62. Season: June and early July. 



General Range. — Northern portion of Northern Hemisphere, south in winter 

 to the Mediterranean, Black Sea, and China; and in America to southern California 

 and Florida. In America breeds from highest latitudes south to New Brunswick, 

 central Quebec, southern Mackenzie, Queen Charlotte Islands, and the Aleutians. 



Distribution in California. — Common winter resident and migrant along the 

 coast, especially southerly. Casual in the interior. 



Authorities. — Heermann (Colymbus septentrionalis), Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv., 

 vol. x., 1859, p. 76 (San Diego); Townsend, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. x., 1887, p. 191 

 (Ft. Crook, Shasta Co.); Forbush, Massachusetts Dept. Agric, Bull. no. 8, 1922, 

 p. 16 (under-water activities). 



WHEN ONE sees a small Loon at close quarters, as from the vantage 

 of a wharf, he notes with satisfaction the white spotting of the back, 

 which proclaims the Red-throated Loon. Of course it couldn't be anything 

 else, for a Pacific Loon, the one without the white spotting, would not 

 let you get so close. My! but it is a pretty sight to see a straightaway 

 race between this bird and a herring. The fish rises instinctively toward 

 the surface with the bird in hot pursuit, and it takes, it may be, only 

 twenty feet after the Loon has come near enough to the surface to be 

 seen, for him to catch the terror-stricken sprat. Once on the surface and 

 overtaken, the fish tries twisting and turning, but the bird is better at it, 

 and has him down in a trice. It is noteworthy that in the case of smaller 

 fish at least, the Diver seizes its prey instead of spearing it. 



In the vicinity of Santa Barbara, as at some other points on the 

 California coast, we are painfully indebted to the exudations of certain 

 oil-bearing strata for intimate glimpses of bird-life. The birds encounter 

 the floating "tar" as they rise from fishing in the kelp-beds. The stuff 

 smears their feathers and daubs their wings to such an extent as to inter- 

 fere with action. In this plight the bird comes ashore, determined to 

 spend half a day cleaning up. Here we find them in all stages of decrepi- 



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