Pacific Loon

General Description

Formerly considered a subspecies of the Arctic Loon, the Pacific Loon is now classified as a full species. It has a smoothly rounded head and neck and a straight bill. In breeding plumage, the top of the head and back of the neck are pale gray, lighter than the face. The body is black with white markings. Non-breeding plumage is dull black-brown, duller black on the back, and dark brown on the sides. Chins, throats, and breasts are all white, with a dark necklace at the top of the throat. The back of the head is gray, much darker than in breeding plumage.

Pacific Loons are Uncommon in Western Washington from October-May.

Habitat

Pacific Loons winter on the Pacific Coast, spending most of the winter on open water, farther from shore than other loon species. In summer, they nest on large, deep tundra lakes in the far north.

Behavior

The most gregarious of the loons, Pacific Loons can be found in flocks of several thousand when food is abundant. They repeatedly dip their heads into the water looking for prey before diving. During the breeding season, they aggressively defend their territories.