Gallery - Divers

A small family of large water birds, with three species regularly seen in the UK plus one rare vagrant the white-billed diver.

All have long, slender bodies, moderately long necks and dagger-shaped bills, quite long but narrow wings and small legs set far back on the body.

They are expert swimmers and divers but unable to stand or walk on land. All are migratory, breeding on freshwater lakes and pools but moving to the sea coast in winter.

Winter Diver ID

A great Video from the BTO

Red-throated Diver (Gavia stellata)

Breeding on small freshwater lakes and will fly to the sea to feed.It hunts fish by diving, these birds sometimes form loose flocks especially during the winter.The nest is a heap of vegetation at a traditional site close to the waters edge.

Black-throated Diver (Gavia artica)

This diver breeds on large freshwater lakes in open country or in forests, migrating south in autumn to coastal waters. It can dive for 45 seconds to catch fish and only visits shorelines to nest and finds movement on land difficult.The birds sometimes gather in flocks.

Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer)

The Great Northern Diver is a Amber list Species-Medium Conservation Concern.

This Comorant sized bird breeds in far North around Iceland and winters in the coastal waters in NW Europe. Feeds mainly on Fish but also on shellfish and crabs.

White-billed Diver (Gavia adamsii)

Slightly larger and bulkier than the much commoner Great Northern, differing mainly in yellowish-white bill. Rare around the UK

© Simon Thurgood 2024
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