Pacific loon • Gavia pacifica
Breeding plumage. Photo by Josh Silberg.
|
Winter plumage. Photo by Mike Yip.
|
Identification
The breeding plumage for this large (to 66 cm long) waterbird is distinctive: It has a pale grey head and nape, with alternating white and dark vertical stripes on the sides of its neck and a dark iridescent purple throat patch which may take on a green sheen. Its back is black with white scapulars (feathers where the wings join the body), and its undersides are white. Its winter plumage is duller, with a dark crown, nape, back, and wings and white undersides. There is a distinct contrasting separation between the dark nape and light throat, and a dark chin strap. Juveniles are similar to winter adults but may lack the chin strap.
Habitat & Range
In winter the Pacific loon forages for food in coastal and offshore locations along the Pacific coast of North America from the Aleutian Islands to Baja California and the Gulf of California. It is also found casually along the east coast in winter. It migrates in small to medium-sized flocks northward to Alaska and northern Canada for the summer, where it breeds on lakes in tundras or forests. It also found in eastern Asia.
Find more information at the British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas here.
Similar Species
The most similar-looking loon, the arctic loon (Gavia arctica), is not found south of northwestern Alaska. The Pacific loon's plainer winter plumage can differentiated from that of other loons (red-throated and common in particular) by its dark chin strap and distinctive separation between its dark nape and light throat.
Intriguing Info
As with other loons, the Pacific loon can only take flight from water, and is very awkward on land.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4621-Gavia-pacifica
The breeding plumage for this large (to 66 cm long) waterbird is distinctive: It has a pale grey head and nape, with alternating white and dark vertical stripes on the sides of its neck and a dark iridescent purple throat patch which may take on a green sheen. Its back is black with white scapulars (feathers where the wings join the body), and its undersides are white. Its winter plumage is duller, with a dark crown, nape, back, and wings and white undersides. There is a distinct contrasting separation between the dark nape and light throat, and a dark chin strap. Juveniles are similar to winter adults but may lack the chin strap.
Habitat & Range
In winter the Pacific loon forages for food in coastal and offshore locations along the Pacific coast of North America from the Aleutian Islands to Baja California and the Gulf of California. It is also found casually along the east coast in winter. It migrates in small to medium-sized flocks northward to Alaska and northern Canada for the summer, where it breeds on lakes in tundras or forests. It also found in eastern Asia.
Find more information at the British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas here.
Similar Species
The most similar-looking loon, the arctic loon (Gavia arctica), is not found south of northwestern Alaska. The Pacific loon's plainer winter plumage can differentiated from that of other loons (red-throated and common in particular) by its dark chin strap and distinctive separation between its dark nape and light throat.
Intriguing Info
As with other loons, the Pacific loon can only take flight from water, and is very awkward on land.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4621-Gavia-pacifica
References
Dunn, J. L. and Alderfer, J. (Eds.). (2011). National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. (6th ed.). Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society. Pp. 68-69.
Pacific Loon. The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online. Accessed 11/03/2014.
Pacific Loon Gavia pacifica. Audubon birds. National Audubon Society. Accessed 11/03/2014.
Authors and editors of page
Kelly Fretwell and Brian Starzomski (2015).
Dunn, J. L. and Alderfer, J. (Eds.). (2011). National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. (6th ed.). Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society. Pp. 68-69.
Pacific Loon. The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online. Accessed 11/03/2014.
Pacific Loon Gavia pacifica. Audubon birds. National Audubon Society. Accessed 11/03/2014.
Authors and editors of page
Kelly Fretwell and Brian Starzomski (2015).