Animalia Life
Gavia pacifica
TAXONOMY
Gavia pacifica Lawrence, 1858. Monotypic.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Pacific diver; French: Plongeon du Pacifique; German:
Weissnackentaucher; Spanish: Colimbo del Pacifico.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
20–27 in (50–68 cm); 3.7 lb (1.7 kg). Very similar to the larger
Arctic loon in all plumages. Bill medium-sized, straight. Black
upperparts with white patches, white underparts, black throat,
and gray head and neck (darker near bill). Differentiated from
the Arctic loon by black flanks, paler nape, and thinner white
stripes on neck. In hand, throat shows faint purple iridescence.
Basic, juvenal, and second alternate plumages similar, with gray
upperparts, crown, and nape and white underparts.
DISTRIBUTION
Breeds on tundra ponds from eastern Siberia to Hudson Bay;
winters on Pacific Ocean from southern Japan to Siberia, Alaska
to southern California. Migration chiefly occurs coastally.
HABITAT
Breeds on medium-sized lakes and ponds in northern forests
and tundra. Excluded from large lakes by yellow-billed and
common loons; excludes red-throated loons from mediumsized
lakes. Winters in coastal areas, often farther offshore than
other species.
BEHAVIOR
Males give territorial yodel call that is individually recognizable,
and can be heard from miles away. Pacific loons are unafraid
of humans, and allow close approach on breeding
grounds. A pair was observed adopting a brood of spectacled
eiders; this is the only reported case of adoption in Gaviidae.
FEEDING EC OLOGY AND DIET
Consumes a wide variety of fish; feeding and diet similar to
other species.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Breeds on medium-sized ponds, sympatric with the Arctic loon
where ranges overlap; pairs of both species have been found on
the same lake. Breeds from May to September. Incubation
28–30 days, fly at 60 days. Predators include gulls (Larus), foxes
(Aloplex and Vulpes), jaegers (Stercorarius), and ravens (Corvus).
CONSERVATION STATUS
Most populations stable. Not listed on IUCN Red List of
Threatened Birds.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Inuit legally hunt loons for subsistence on breeding grounds;
4,600 loons (of all species) are taken yearly.
Other popular Animals
Photo Gallery of - Pacific loon
