Pacific Loon

Gavia pacificaOrder: GAVIIFORMESFamily: Loons (Gaviidae)

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Pacific Loon

Pacific Loon: Medium loon with black-and-white checkered back and white underparts. Crown and nape are gray. Iridescent throat patch can appear purple, green, or black. Eye is red. Bill is black and slender. Feeds mostly on fish, some crustaceans and mollusks. Flight is direct with rapid wing beats.

● Song: "kwao"

● Foraging & Feeding: Pacific Loon: Feeds by diving underwater and pursuing prey such as fish, crustaceans, and frogs.

● Breeding & nesting: Pacific Loon: One to three brown eggs with black brown spots are laid on a platform of stems, roots, and mud built near the edge of water. Incubation ranges from 23 to 25 days and is carried out by both parents. Young start to fly at 60 to 65 days.

● Similar species: Pacific Loon: Arctic Loon is larger and has more white on flanks coming up over sides of rump, darker nape, and bolder black-and-white neck stripes.

Flight Pattern

Direct flight with rapid wing beats.

● Range & Habitat: Pacific Loon: Breeds from Alaska east to Hudson Bay, and south to northern British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario. Winters along Pacific coast; very rare in northeastern U.S.

^BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester

^PopulationCommon to fairly common on tundra

^MigrationMigratory

^Weight59.2 Ounces

Field Guide to Birds of North America
Bird name:

Field Guide to Birds of North America

Pacific Loon

Pacific Loon

Flight Pattern