| Pacific Diver | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Gavia arctica |
Pacific Diver (Gavia pacifica †), known in North America as Pacific Loon, is a medium-sized member of the loon or diver family.
It breeds in Alaska. It winters at sea or on large lakes over a much wider range. It may be conspecific with Black-throated Diver, which it closely resembles.
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
This species, like all divers, is a specialist fish-eater, catching its prey underwater. It flies with neck outstretched.
The call is a yodelling high-pitched wailing.