Pacific Divers (Gavia pacifica), known in North America as the Pacific Loons
Loons
The Pacific Diver (Gavia pacifica), known in North America as the Pacific Loon, is a medium-sized member of the loon, or diver, family. It may be conspecific (of, or belonging to, the same species) with Black-throated Diver which it closely resembles.
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, 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, USA and Mexico. It has occurred as a vagrant to Greenland, Hong Kong and Great Britain.
This species was spotted in Europe on January, 2007, with an individual in Great Britain near Farnham, North Yorkshire.
Description
Breeding adults are like a smaller sleeker version of Great Northern Diver. 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.
Diet / Feeding
This species, like all divers, is a specialist fish-eater, catching its prey underwater. It flies with neck outstretched.
Call / Vocalization
The call is a yodelling high-pitched wailing.
References
- BirdLife International (2004). Gavia pacifica. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 09 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
Copyright: Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia.org
Relevant Web Resources: Pacific Loon (Virtual Bird Field Guide) ... USGS ... Birds of Nova Scotia
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