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Black-throated loon

 

 

Passing migrants can be seen from the beginning of September, migration observation points are Cape Põõsaspea, Ristna nina, Suur väin, Saaremaa, Sõrve säär on the north-western coast. Migration also goes by way of Lake Peipsi; lately seen at Pühajärve. As breeders in Estonia always at lakes, but very rare, up to ten pairs. The number of winterers of course depends on ice conditions, in milder winters around a thousand black-throated loons may be in our coastal seas.

 

Winter plumage is uniformly brownish black on top and underparts silky white; an aerodynamic, half-metre long body, wing span a meter and some more. Weight of adult male birds over three, female birds under three kilos.

 

An extremely endangered species and they might be recognised, but an ordinary birdwatcher cannot know all – we can, however, always pick up a bird guidebook.