Gardening Actions:

Create a place for wildlife
Make your yard a refuge for migratory birds.

Stop migratory birds from hitting your windows
Thousands of birds die each year on their migrations when hitting residential and commercial windows.

Create a haven for hummingbirds
Attract these tiny and colorful migrating birds.

Safe birdfeeding tips
The best food for birds comes from native plants, but if you offer feeders, here are some important tips.

Purchasing Actions:

Join NWF and help migratory birds
Your tax-deductible donation supports NWF's work to protect migratory birds and other imperiled wildlife. We'll acknowledge your gift with a complimentary plush animal. Thank you.

Buy bird-friendly coffee
Many birds spend the winter in South America. Help protect their homes from coffee growers. Purchasing this coffee also supports NWF.

Migration Distance
7,000 miles

Migration Route and Stopover Sites
The red-throated loon is a holarctic breeder, which means it breeds far into the high Arctic. They can be found along the Alaskan coast and northern Canada, as far west as British Columbia and as far east as Newfoundland. During the winter, they migrate south along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, towards northern California and Florida. Some have been found as far south as Mexico. Some birds live in the arctic regions of Europe and Asia and migrate south to the Caspian and Mediterranean seas.

Migration Hazards
These birds are extremely vulnerable to oil spills.

Bird Size
24-27 inches

Interesting Facts
"Loon" is probably derived from the Old Norse word "loom," which means "lame" and could refer to the bird's clumsiness on land. However, while the red-throated loon may be clumsy on the ground, it is able to take off directly from the ground and start flying.

Send an e-card Invite your friend to come learn about this amazing bird.