Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Red-throated Loon
Scientific name:	Gavia stellata
Date:	July 24, 2026
Time:	11:50 a.m.
Length of time observed:	20 min
Number:	1
Age:	1st summer
Sex:	Unknown
Location:	Willard Reservoir
County:	Box Elder
Latilong:	41.37029, -112.14,2003231
Elevation:	4,200 ft
Distance to bird:	75 ft
Optical equipment:	8 x 42 bins, 85 mm scope w/20-60x zoom eyepiece
Weather:	Dry and hot; temps in the high 80s
Light Conditions:	Hazy sunny
Description: Size of bird:	Similar to, maybe a bit bigger, than the big grebes present
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Snake-like neck, low arching body
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Mottled gray and white
(Description:) Bill Type:	Spear-like
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Solid-looking, a little larger and dark from a distance with a shorter thicker neck and less contrasting blocks of plumage than the Western and Clark's Grebes also present showed. Blackish spear-like bill and head held at a 30-ish degree angle pointing upward, possibly emphasized by a straight culmen and a slight upward curve in the lower mandible. Bill smoothly tapered into the gentle curve of the forehead and throat without the bill looking bulky, angular, or the forehead looking steep and angular. Smoothly arching low crown. Reddish eye. Head and neck mottled gray and white lacking pattern, with more solid gray on the forehead, neck below the cheek, and the lower nape. Throat somewhat more white and lacking red patch. Low arching back, wings and tail mostly brown-tinged gray with side feathering that touched the water line more white. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	None heard
Behavior:	Paddling slowly and placidly near the west dike. Dived only when disturbed by boat traffic for awhile, then began a period of very active diving while surfacing for only a second or less between dives.
Habitat:	Large, freshwater reservoir
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Narrow, thin, delicate bill without bulk or bulging lower mandible eliminates Common and Yellow-billed Loons; persistently holding the head and bill pointing upward further eliminates Common and also the Pacific and Arctic Loons. Slightly larger body size, thicker neck and mottled gray and white plumage eliminates grebes.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Two other Red-throated Loons; one at Pineview in 2016 and the other, likely the bird of this report, at least three times at Willard Reservoir Dec 2025. Many Common Loons and the big grebes annually; Pacific Loons occasionally; Arctic Loon never.
References consulted:	Sibley, Birds of the World, Kaufman 1990 after the substance of this sight record was recorded
Description from:	From memory From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Kristin Purdy
Observer's address:	Ogden, Utah
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	None today, but possibly seen by many this past winter.
Date prepared:	July 24, 2026
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	This bird is very likely the same individual seen by many this past winter from Dec 5, 2025-Jan 24, 2026, including me, but never documented with a sight record. Willard Reservoir never froze and so the bird could over-winter. I perceived the winter bird was a hatch-year bird in 2025 because it didn't adopt the classic adult plumage with a mostly white face and neck, but instead remained in a juvenile (first basic), more Pacific Loon-like plumage. Now that it may be entering its second winter, its juvenile plumage appears to be heavily worn and it may be adopting its second basic plumage. It may be significant that the bird doesn't have any red on its neck, implying that it's not a failed breeder heading south early.