Key information
These streamlined diving birds sit low in the water and dive with consummate ease. On land they are clumsy, barely able to walk with their legs so far back on their bodies.
They are easily disturbed when breeding and their vulnerability to marine pollution make them a vulnerable as well as rare breeding species. They are listed as a Schedule 1 species on The Wildlife and Countryside Act.
What they eat:
Fish.
Measurements:
- Length:
- 58-73cm
- Wingspan:
- 110-130cm
- Weight:
- 2.3kg (females), 3.4kg (males)
Population:
- UK breeding:
- 200 pairs
- UK wintering:
- 560 birds
Identifying features:
This bird species has different identifying features depending on sex/age/season.
Black-throated diver (summer plumage)
Black-throated diver (winter)
