French: Plongeon catmarin Spanish: Colimbo Chico Common Names:
Red-throated Loon or Rain Goose Photo of an adult in breeding
plumage with a chick by Sindri Skulason. Sexes are alike
although the male is slightly larger. They moult to a dowdy grey
and white grab for their non-breeding plumage. Distinguished
from other divers by its narrow bill which is generally tilted
slightly upwards. They are the smallest of its family. Unlike
other divers, they do not need to patter on the water's surface
on a long takeoff but rather can take flight directly from land
if necessary. Distribution: Summer Range: Coastal and inland
tundra in Alaska, northern Canada, across extreme northern
Europe and Russia. Winter Range: Along the Pacific Coast from
Aleutian Islands to Baja California and on the Atlantic Coast
from southern Newfoundland to Georgia. Small numbers have been
recorded on the lower Great Lakes and also on temperate near-
shore waters off Europe and Asia. Habitat: Low tundra wetlands,
bogs and ponds in forests. In m