The largest of the UK's divers, it has a bigger, heavier head and bill than its commoner relatives. It is largely a winter visitor to our shores although some non-breeding birds stay off northern coasts in the summer.
Key ID Features:
Larger than other divers (other than scarce White-billed) with heavy,dagger-like bill and an angular head shape with a 'bump' on the forehead.
Strikingly chequered mantle and black head in breeding plumage but paler grey-brown with white throat in winter.
Typically swims very low with back often submerged.
Overview
Scientific name: Gavia immer
Family: Divers (Gaviidae)
Where to see them:
Around coasts where it is usually solitary, often farther out to sea than other divers. Occasionally seen inland on reservoirs. Largest numbers off the Northern and Western Isles of Scotland and also the Cornish coast.
Seen in UK:
They start to arrive offshore in August and birds move back to their largely Icelandic breeding grounds in April and May.
What they eat
Fish and crustaceans
Text (c) RSPB, used with permission
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Location: Hayle, Cornwall
Photographer: Tim Tapley
