Species BirdsArctic Loon

Arctic Loon

Gavia arctica

RareBird
Illustration of Arctic Loon (Gavia arctica)

The Arctic Loon is an Old World loon that barely enters North America, breeding in western Alaska and occasionally appearing along the Pacific Coast. It is nearly identical to the Pacific Loon in non-breeding plumage but is slightly larger with a less curved culmen. In breeding plumage the gray head is slightly darker and the black neck patch has less white striping.

Habitat
Tundra lakes in western Alaska; Pacific Coast in winter
Diet
Fish caught in dives
How common
Rare

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