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| − | [[Image:Pacific_Loon.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|balticbird|balticbird}} <br />Churchill, Manitoba, [[Canada]], June 2003]] | + | [[Image:Pacific_Loon.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo © by {{user|balticbird|balticbird}} <br />Churchill, Manitoba, [[Canada]], June 2003]] |
'''Alternative name: Pacific Diver''' | '''Alternative name: Pacific Diver''' | ||
;[[:Category:Gavia|Gavia]] pacifica | ;[[:Category:Gavia|Gavia]] pacifica | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | [[Image:269Diver 9bf.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Non-breeding<br />Photo by {{user|Sandpiper|Sandpiper}}<br />Farnham, North [[Yorkshire]], [[UK]], February 2007 ]] | + | [[Image:269Diver 9bf.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Non-breeding<br />Photo © by {{user|Sandpiper|Sandpiper}}<br />Farnham, North [[Yorkshire]], [[UK]], February 2007 ]] |
51–64·5 cm (20-25½ in), Wingspan 118cm<br /> | 51–64·5 cm (20-25½ in), Wingspan 118cm<br /> | ||
| − | '''Adult breeding''': white-chequered black back and dove-grey head but paler nape area more extensive and throat patch has purple (not green) iridescence.<br /> | + | '''Adult breeding''': white-chequered black back and dove-grey head but paler nape area more extensive and throat patch has purple (not green) [[Dictionary G-L#I|iridescence]].<br /> |
'''Adult non-breeding''': dark-grey brown above clearly demarcated from white underparts (as in [[Arctic Loon|Arctic Loon/Black-throated Diver]]) but may lack conspicuous white flank patch seen on swimming birds. | '''Adult non-breeding''': dark-grey brown above clearly demarcated from white underparts (as in [[Arctic Loon|Arctic Loon/Black-throated Diver]]) but may lack conspicuous white flank patch seen on swimming birds. | ||
====Similar Species==== | ====Similar Species==== | ||
Slightly smaller than the [[Arctic Loon|Arctic Loon/Black-throated Diver]] but smaller and with a finer bill. | Slightly smaller than the [[Arctic Loon|Arctic Loon/Black-throated Diver]] but smaller and with a finer bill. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | [[Image:234Pacific-Diver--9462.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Non-breeding<br />Photo by {{user|Reader|Reader}}<br />Farnham, North [[Yorkshire]], February 2007]] | + | [[Image:234Pacific-Diver--9462.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Non-breeding<br />Photo © by {{user|Reader|Reader}}<br />Farnham, North [[Yorkshire]], February 2007]] |
Breeds in north-eastern Siberia and in northern [[North America]] from [[Alaska]] east to Hudson Bay. Winters off [[Japan]] and the Pacific coast of [[North America]] from Alaska to [[Baja California]] and commonly in the Gulf of [[California]]. May occur as a rare winter vagrant to the Atlantic coast but these birds may belong to [[Black-throated Diver]]. | Breeds in north-eastern Siberia and in northern [[North America]] from [[Alaska]] east to Hudson Bay. Winters off [[Japan]] and the Pacific coast of [[North America]] from Alaska to [[Baja California]] and commonly in the Gulf of [[California]]. May occur as a rare winter vagrant to the Atlantic coast but these birds may belong to [[Black-throated Diver]]. | ||
| Line 32: | Line 32: | ||
Wailing, croaking and cackling calls. | Wailing, croaking and cackling calls. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug18}}#Avibirds |
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
Revision as of 21:39, 7 October 2018
Alternative name: Pacific Diver
- Gavia pacifica
Identification
51–64·5 cm (20-25½ in), Wingspan 118cm
Adult breeding: white-chequered black back and dove-grey head but paler nape area more extensive and throat patch has purple (not green) iridescence.
Adult non-breeding: dark-grey brown above clearly demarcated from white underparts (as in Arctic Loon/Black-throated Diver) but may lack conspicuous white flank patch seen on swimming birds.
Similar Species
Slightly smaller than the Arctic Loon/Black-throated Diver but smaller and with a finer bill.
Distribution
Breeds in north-eastern Siberia and in northern North America from Alaska east to Hudson Bay. Winters off Japan and the Pacific coast of North America from Alaska to Baja California and commonly in the Gulf of California. May occur as a rare winter vagrant to the Atlantic coast but these birds may belong to Black-throated Diver.
Accidental vagrant in the eastern United States.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Breeds on medium-large lakes and winters at sea.
Behaviour
Breeding
Breeds early-May to September (later in the north of their range).
It builds nests beside water often on an island or spit, a shallow scrape or sometimes a substantial mound of vegetation built in shallow water. It lays 2 eggs which are olive brown with black blotches. Both sexes incubate for approx 28 days.
The young feed themselves at 35 days and fly at 60 days.
Diet
Fish, also molluscs and crustaceans.
Vocalisation
Wailing, croaking and cackling calls.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibirds
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Pacific Loon. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 19 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Pacific_Loon
