ID Challenge

This month’s challenge is all about waterbirds which habitually dive to feed

Test your knowledge of waterbirds which habitually dive to feed

Waterbirds which dive for food give us plenty of scope for choosing ID Challenge birds, this month. The group includes everything from Kingfishers to Cormorants, via diving ducks, auks, Dipper, grebes and divers themselves, to name most of the broad groups. Some dive from the air, but most dive from a swimming position to get under the water in search of a (presumably) tasty and nutritious morsel, be it fish, mollusc or even plant material. All these birds are experts at getting beneath the surface and swimming for their dinner. Here are a selection of six such birds, not necessarily in the act of diving, but all very capable of it. All you have to do (for the challenge) is name them. Then turn the page for our solutions and the answers, of course. Turn once more for some tips on identification of diving birds and beyond. Enjoy the challenge!