Pacific loon

Pacific loon
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Gaviiformes
Family: Gaviidae
Genus: Gavia
Species: G. pacifica
Binomial name
Gavia pacifica
(Lawrence, 1858)
In Alaska

The Pacific loon or Pacific diver (Gavia pacifica), is a medium-sized member of the loon, or diver, family. It may be conspecific with black-throated diver/Arctic loon, which it closely resembles. The genus name Gavia comes from the Latin for "sea mew", as used by ancient Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder.[2] The specific epithet pacifica is Latin for the Pacific Ocean, the term meaning "peaceful".[3]

It breeds on deep lakes in the tundra region of Alaska and northern Canada as far east as Baffin Island, and in Russia east of the Lena River.

Unlike other loons/divers, this bird may migrate in flocks. It winters at sea, mainly on the Pacific coast, or on large lakes over a much wider range, including China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, United States and Mexico. It has occurred as a vagrant to Greenland, Hong Kong, Great Britain, Spain, Finland and Switzerland (Dec 2015).[4]

Breeding adults are like a smaller sleeker version of great northern diver/common loon. They measure 58–74 cm (23–29 in) in length, 110–128 cm (43–50 in) in wingspan and weigh 1–2.5 kg (2.2–5.5 lb).[5] They have a grey head, black throat, white underparts and chequered black-and-white mantle. Non-breeding plumage is drabber with the chin and foreneck white. Its bill is grey or whitish and dagger-shaped. In all plumages, lack of a white flank patch distinguishes this species from the otherwise very similar black-throated diver/Arctic loon.

This species, like all divers/loons, is a specialist fish-eater, catching its prey underwater. It flies with neck outstretched.

The call is a yodelling high-pitched wailing, as well as harsh growls and barks.

Pacific loon

Habitat and range

The Pacific loon breeds on tundra lakes, and winters in the open ocean or other large bodies of water. It breeds primarily in northern Canada and eastern Siberia, and winters along the Pacific coast of North America.[6]

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Gavia pacifica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. ↑ Johnsgard, Paul A. (1987). Diving Birds of North America. University of Nevada–Lincoln. ISBN 0-8032-2566-0.
  3. ↑ Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 288. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  4. ↑ "Pacific Loon Spotted on Finnish Lake". YLE.fi. Yleisradio Oy. November 16, 2010. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
  5. ↑ (2011).
  6. ↑ Peterson, Roger Tory (2002). A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America (5th ed.). New York, NY, USA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 9. ISBN 978-0-395-74047-7.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gavia pacifica.

The following articles deal with separation of Pacific diver/Pacific loon from black-throated diver/Arctic loon:

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