Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Red-throated Loon
Scientific name:	Gavia Stellata
Date:	12/5/2025
Time:	9:30 AM
Length of time observed:	15 minute
Number:	1
Age:	nknown
Sex:	nknown
Location:	Lincoln Point
County:	Utah
Latilong:
Elevation:	4488
Distance to bird:	100 yards
Optical equipment:	8 x 43 Zen Ray binoculars and Vortex Razor 15-60 X
Weather:	Cloudy with highs in the mid 30's
Light Conditions:	cloudy diffused light
Description: Size of bird:	Larger than Aechmophorus Grebe and smaller than DC Cormorant
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Loon shaped
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	gray, black, white tones
(Description:) Bill Type:	Loon Bill
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Eli and I were scoping the lake for loons when I scoped onto a loon that quickly dove. In my quick glance, it seemed as if it had a bill that was upturned, so I was thinking it was possible that we had found a Red-throated Loon on Utah Lake. It came back up onto water and I was able to get Eli on the bird. We then spent the next fifteen minutes watching the bird and discussing the different things we were able to identify that made it a Red-throated loon. The main thing was the shorter, sharply pointed bill, that remained point at an angle upward the entire time we watched it, except when it consumed a fish, and we weren't able to tell bill angle at that point. We also could catch glimpses of white on the flanks as it would move on the water. It had what appeared from our distance to have a dark and a gray neck and top of the head. The under chin area was white, then went to a grayish or dark coloring on the throat, due to light conditions we couldn't be certain if it was leftover red from breeding, or more in line with a juvenile bird, but leaned towards a juvenile bird. uWe also noted a white chest, and cheek of the bird with they eye placement right around where the white met the gray. As for the head shape, the head appeared flatter on top vs a more round profile of a Pacific Loon. Unfortunately it wasn't close enough to tell the patterning on the back. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	none
Behavior:	bird was actively swimming about 100 yards off shore and also actively diving. We also were able to see it catch a fish and eat it.
Habitat:	shallow freshwater lake
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Pacific Loon, the continued upturned or angled bill of this loon, would eliminate a Pacific Loon, as would the whtie flank we could see. Also a Pacific Loon has a more clean white throat with a necklace, that this bird did not have Common Loon- The lack of a large straight bill, and overall size eliminated a Common Loon. Yellow-billed Loon- The smaller size, and smaller bill that wasn't huge and yellow, eliminated this species Common Merganser and RB Merganser- Many Common Mergansers were in the area, the females of both birds would have a more shaggy crest, which this didn't have, and a male would have a greenish head from either speices Western/Clark's Grebe. These would be too small for the bird we watched, and the bill color of yellow or olive yellow would not be conducive with the bird we saw.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I've seen multiple Red-throated Loon in non breeding plumage, and juveniles.
References consulted:	Sibley, Macaulay Library
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	KC Childs
Observer's address:	Orem, UT
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Eli Philips
Date prepared:	December 8, 2025
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	A few days prior Bryant Olsen had located a Red-throated Loon on north shore, and I am not completely certain if they are different, birds or the same bird, so I am submitting a record. I also emailed photos.