The Red Throated Diver: Close Up HD Footage (Gavia stellata)

The Red-throated Diver is a fascinating waterbird you might spot around British coasts. In summer, you'll notice its distinctive red throat patch, though this fades to grey in winter. These birds are brilliant swimmers, diving deep underwater to catch fish, which make up most of their diet. They're quite clumsy on land though, as their legs are positioned far back on their body – perfect for swimming but not great for walking! While they're the smallest of all divers (about the size of a duck), they can still catch surprisingly large fish. In winter, you'll often see them bobbing about near the coast, but come breeding season, they head to small lakes and pools further north. They make a rather unusual sound that some people say sounds a bit like someone moaning - quite eerie if you hear it across a quiet lake! Despite their name, they're actually more grey than red for most of the year.

Learn more: https://binocularbase.com/bird/red-throated-diver/