The red-throated diver’s breeding distribution is circumpolar in the Arctic, but it also lives in the northern parts of the coniferous forest region. It is found in North-America, Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia and northern Russia. The species breeds over most of Svalbard, but nesting densities are highest in the western part of Spitsbergen, on Bjørnøya and on Tusenøyane. It prefers open, flat tundra areas, and this habitat is mainly found along the coast in Svalbard. The red-throated diver arrives in Svalbard in May-June and leaves in September- October. While waiting for the ice to break up on the lakes in spring, the divers remain at sea. The red-throated diver probably winters in coastal areas along the Norwegian coast and in the North Sea. They sometimes aggregate in large, loosely-scattered gatherings, but more often they are seen singly or in small groups.

The red-throated diver nests on small islands in freshwater lakes, ponds and lagoons as well as along the shorelines of these bodies of water. It usually prefers small freshwater ponds for breeding, while it searches for food at sea or in larger lakes. The nest-site is often re-used year after year. Red-throated divers are solitary breeders, but on large lakes several pairs may breed. The nest is always situated close to the water, so that the incubating bird can easily slide into the water if disturbed. Sometimes the nest is built as an "island" in shallow ponds. The red-throated diver is somewhat more gregarious than the other divers, but still shows strong territorial behaviour both in flight over its territory and on the water where it breeds. Although they breed in freshwater, the adults often spend considerable amounts of time at sea during the breeding season. They dive with a smooth, neat "bow", often remaining submerged for a minute or more, when foraging and they can travel large distances under water. In addition to fish, the red-throated diver feeds on crustaceans, mussels, plant material and terrestrial invertebrates. Parent birds feed their young with small crustaceans and aquatic insects immediately after hatching, and later switch to feeding them fish.

The red-throated diver’s nest is usually a shallow cup lined with plant material. But sometimes the nest is built as a platform consisting of moss and aquatic plants. Both sexes take part in nest construction. This species requires a stable water level to nest successfully. The red-throated diver normally lays two eggs, but the clutch size may vary between one and three. The eggs are olive-green with dark blotches. They are laid towards the end of June or early July. The time of egg lying is to a large extent dependent on when the ice breaks up on the breeding pond. Both parents take part in incubation, which lasts for 26-28 days. The young leave the nest a day after hatching. They remain on the breeding lake during the following weeks with their parents, who both take part in caring for them. The young fledge at an age of about six weeks. The red-throated diver becomes sexually mature at an age of two to three years of age.

The size of the population of red-throated divers breeding in Svalbard is not known, but is estimated to be in the order of 500- 1000 pairs. The population trend is not known. The European breeding population underwent a huge decline during the 1970s and 1980s, but has recovered somewhat since that time. The European breeding population is estimated to be about 92,000 pairs. The redthroated diver is very shy during the breeding season and is vulnerable to disturbance. Photographers and other intruders approaching too closely can easily disrupt nesting. Unattended eggs are quickly preyed upon by arctic foxes, glaucous gulls or great skuas.