- Lifespan
- 10–15 years in the wild
- Size & Weight
- 52–58 cm, wingspan 70–86 cm; 900–1,300 g
- Habitat
- Found on coastal waters, estuaries, lochs, and larger inland lakes, preferring areas with good fish stocks and minimal disturbance.
- UK Distribution
- Breeds in small numbers in northern Scotland, particularly the Highlands and Hebrides. Winter visitors and passage migrants arrive from northern Europe, with larger populations occurring on British coasts from September to March.
- Diet
- Almost exclusively fish, diving to depths of 3–6 metres to pursue prey underwater with great agility.
- Prey
- Small fish including sand eels, sprats, herring, trout, and flatfish; occasionally crustaceans.
- Predators
- Foxes and mink raid nests; flying birds of prey such as White-tailed Eagles and Peregrines may take juveniles.
- Mating Season
- April to June
- Breeding
- Clutch of 8–10 eggs, incubation period 29–35 days, single brood per season. Ducklings fledge at 9–10 weeks.
- Behaviour
- Highly aquatic and rarely seen on land. Males perform elaborate courtship displays on water, producing distinctive grunting and rattling calls. Often seen in small flocks, diving synchronously to pursue fish.