It breeds in the northern part Eurasia and in the northwestern part of Alaska moving south in winter. It is classified into two subspecies geographically. It is a rare winter visitor.
It breeds in the northern part Eurasia and in the northwestern part of Alaska moving south in winter. It is classified into two subspecies geographically. It is a rare winter visitor.
Behavior
It lives alone or in a small group. It dives to catch fish.
Characteristic
The bill is straight and sharp. It is easily confused with Pacific diver, but there are white parts that extended widely from the back of the flanks to the upper parts.
Adult
Breeding plumage: The throat and neck are black with glossy green, and the black and white vertical stripes are thicker than the Pacific Diver.
Adult winter plumage
It is almost the same shape as the Pacific Diver, but there is no black horizontal stripe on the throat.
1st winter plumage
Unlike the adult, there are no white spots on the scapulars and coverts. The edge on the upper parts is light colored.
Similar species
Pacific diver: The bill is short and thinner than an Arctic Diver, but is difficult to distinguish in the field. There is no white spot on the back of the flanks. Winter plumage exhibits black horizontal stripes on the throat, but juveniles may or may not.
