Pacific Loon

Identification

The Pacific loon is a medium-sized member of the loon family, measuring 58–74 cm in length with a wingspan of 110–128 cm and weighing 1–2.5 kg. Breeding adults display a distinctive appearance: a grey head, black throat with purple reflections, white underparts, and a chequered black-and-white mantle, making them resemble a smaller, sleeker version of the common loon. Their bill is grey or whitish and dagger-shaped. In non-breeding plumage, the bird becomes drabber, with a white chin and foreneck replacing the bold breeding colours.

The most reliable identification feature is the absence of a white flank patch, which distinguishes the Pacific loon from the otherwise very similar black-throated loon. From the red-throated loon in winter, the Pacific loon can be differentiated by its darker appearance, greater contrast between crown and throat, and a bill that does not appear upturned. Like all loons, the Pacific loon's legs are positioned towards the rear of its body, an adaptation for underwater foraging that makes walking on land difficult and takeoff from land nearly impossible—the bird requires 30 to 50 yards of water to achieve flight.

Range & Habitat

The Pacific loon breeds on tundra lakes in northern Canada and eastern Siberia. During winter, it relocates to the open ocean or large bodies of water, primarily along the Pacific coast of North America, though its winter range extends much more widely across China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, the United States, and Mexico. The species is occasionally recorded as a vagrant to Greenland, Hong Kong, Great Britain, Spain, Sweden, Finland, and Switzerland.

Unlike other loons, Pacific loons may migrate in flocks, a behaviour that distinguishes them within their family. The requirement for substantial open water to take off limits the species to larger lakes and coastal waters, shaping both its breeding distribution and winter habitat preferences.

Behaviour & Diet

Pacific loons are highly vocal birds, particularly active in spring and summer. Their calls include sharp "ark"-like vocalizations while feeding, the famous loud and eerie "oo-loo-lee" wail or yodel characteristic of loons that can travel for miles, and various "kok-kok-kok-kok" calls, cackles, growls, barks, and clucking sounds. During breeding season, these calls are especially frequent and serve important territorial and mating functions.

Breeding behaviour involves elaborate displays including beak-dipping and splash-diving to attract mates, with males fighting aggressively using their beaks. Pacific loons are socially monogamous, often maintaining pair bonds for life as long as they continue to breed together. Pairs construct nests of piled vegetation and mud on shorelines near deep lakes, typically laying one to two light buff or green eggs with brown spots. Incubation lasts 23 to 25 days, and chicks remain dependent on their parents for approximately 8 weeks, often riding on a parent's back for protection and warmth. Pacific loons display remarkable territorial fidelity and aggression, with high retention rates for breeding lakes and documented interspecific killing of intruders near nesting areas.

Best Time & Places to See It

Spring and summer offer the best opportunities to observe Pacific loons on their breeding grounds on tundra lakes in northern Canada and eastern Siberia, when birds are most vocal and engaged in breeding displays. Winter observers should focus on the Pacific coast of North America and large inland lakes across the western continent, where flocking behaviour may increase sighting chances. The species' loud calls during breeding season make audio detection possible even when visual sightings prove difficult.

Photography Tips

Photograph breeding adults in spring and summer to capture the striking grey head, black throat, and chequered mantle plumage. The bird's dagger-like bill and distinctive head markings photograph well in close-ups. Winter birds present a more subdued appearance; focus on capturing the pale chinstrap and white foreneck to document seasonal plumage changes. Since takeoff requires 30–50 yards of open water, position yourself where birds have clear flight paths. Patience is essential—the bird's tendency to remain in deep water and its requirement for substantial distances to launch into flight mean that intimate photographic opportunities may be limited, but the distinctive silhouette and striking breeding plumage reward persistent observers.