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Red-throated Loon Sounds

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Duet
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Alaska, June 03, 2007Recorded by Gerrit Vyn | Macaulay Library
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Alaska, June 14, 2006Recorded by Michael Andersen | Macaulay Library
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Alaska, June 03, 2007Recorded by Michael Andersen | Macaulay Library
Calls in flight
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Alaska, January 01, 2006Recorded by Brian McCaffery
Alarm calls
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Alaska, June 14, 2006Recorded by Michael Andersen | Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Calls

Red-throated Loons are mostly quiet in fall and winter but sometimes vocalize on calm days in late winter and early spring, mostly a rapid, quacking. On the breeding grounds they also make a remarkable variety of wails, coos, croaks, and a prehistoric-sounding gayorworrk, dubbed the “plesiosaur call” by researchers.

Compare with Similar Species

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Pacific Loon Breeding adult is similar to Red-throated Loon

Pacific Loon Nonbreeding/immature is similar to Red-throated Loon

Common Loon Breeding adult is similar to Red-throated Loon

Common Loon Nonbreeding/immature is similar to Red-throated Loon

Arctic Loon Breeding is similar to Red-throated Loon

Arctic Loon Nonbreeding adult is similar to Red-throated Loon

Double-crested Cormorant Nonbreeding adult is similar to Red-throated Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

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Species in This Family

Loons(Order: Gaviiformes, Family:Gaviidae)

Red-throated Loon

Red-throated Loon

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Red-throated Loon

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