Great Northern Diver

Name: Great Northern Diver

Scientific name: Gavia adamsii

Category: Birds

Nature Stars: 90

What are nature stars?

About: A large waterbird, almost as large as a cormorant. Small numbers of Great Northern Divers spend the winter on sheltered sea lochs around the west coast of Scotland, but more arrive around our coasts for the winter where they feed on fish.

How to identify: The biggest of our divers, with a thick, strong bill. Unlikely to be seen in its handsome black and white summer plumage, in the winter mainly dark grey, with a white throat, chest and belly.

Where: Breeds in Iceland and North America. In the winter can be seen on the sea around most coasts and sometimes turns up on big lakes and reservoirs.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 70
• Agility: 50
• Rarity: 70
• Cute factor: 40
• Traveller: 80

Fantastic fact: In Canada, the one dollar coin is known as a Loonie, because a picture of the Great Northern Diver (also known as the Common Loon in America) appears on it!

Photograph credit: Tim Lenz