Canadian Birds: Diving Birds

Whether they are diving to great depths underwater in pursuit of prey, or diving from great heights to the water’s surface to snatch a meal, diving birds are a pleasure to observe. 

Some species of diving birds, like grebes, are easily spotted throughout Canada in summer, gracing lakes and ponds across the country. Others, like loons and cormorants, can be found on deeper lakes and rivers inland or in nearshore waters along the coast. The pelagic species, or seabirds, such as gannets, albatross and shearwaters, come near land only to breed and can otherwise be best seen from the deck of a boat in offshore waters.

This guide is an introduction to many of the diving birds that can be found in (or around) Canada, from familiar freshwater species to seabirds living offshore in Canadian waters. Designed for everyone from avid birders to those who just love nature, this book has a wealth of information to help you get to know the diving birds that live around us. For each account, we’ve provided some natural history as well as the birds’ key physical characteristics, tips on where and when to look for them, what they eat and what their calls sound like, all important clues to help locate and identify these impressive birds.