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Birds
Great northern diver
Great northern diver · Gavia immer
The great northern diver shines with black and white plumage, deep red eyes and mysterious calls on still, clear lakes.
Fact file
- Size
- 70 to 80 centimetres long, up to 6 kilograms in weight, wingspan up to 148 centimetres
- Males and females
- Male and female look almost identical
- Sounds
- Plaintive, drawn-out calls at dusk and during territorial disputes
- Diet
- Hunts fish, crustaceans and a few amphibians, mostly by diving
- Offspring
- Pair breeds once a year, usually 1 to 2 eggs on ground-level nests from May onwards
How to identify Great northern diver
The great northern diver is striking with black and white patterned feathers on its back and flanks and a deep black head. In breeding plumage, fine white stripes decorate the neck, which fade to a silvery grey in winter. The conspicuously red eyes are a distinctive identifying feature.
With a body length of up to 80 centimetres and a wingspan of 120 to 148 centimetres, the great northern diver appears imposing. Its strong, dagger-shaped bill and streamlined, rather low swimming posture on the water immediately reveal that you are dealing with an excellent swimmer and diver.
More in the app
With Wildful Stories+ you also get in the app:
- general viewing tips
Where Great northern diver live
Discover Great northern diver on your trip.
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