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Arctic Loon

Gavia arcticaOrder: GAVIIFORMESFamily: Loons (Gaviidae)
Arctic Loon Portrait
  Splitbar
Range Map for Arctic Loon

Overview

Arctic Loon: Medium loon with straight, stout bill, white-spotted black back, white flanks visible above water while swimming. Head and nape are gray. Neck has bold black and white stripes on sides and green or purple throat bar that may be difficult to see. Feeds on fish, mollusks, and crustaceans.

Range and Habitat

Arctic Loon: Breeds in northwestern Alaska; occurs in coastal western Alaska, especially at St. Lawrence Island, during migration. Preferred habitats include ocean, open water, and tundra lakes (summer).

Splitbar

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Voice Text

"kwow, know, know"

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Recommended Products:

Stokes Eastern Regional Field Guide to Birds
Donald and Lillian Stokes are passionate about birds and wildlife - and have more than 20 years in the field studying these creatures. Their dedication is translated -- page by page -- into this comprehensive easy to follow bird identification guide. All pertinent details pertaining to the particular species of bird are found on the same page to simplify the I.D. process. Each page provides: a color photograph, range map, behavior, voice, feeding, nesting, and habitat. Also included in this field guide: a quick reference alphabetical indexes inside the front and back covers, color tab index to bird groups, a handy reference to the most common backyard and feeder birds and other useful features. The text is clearly written, accurate, and up-to-date. You'll wonder how you ever managed without it! This book contains over 900 full color photographs. Paperback, 473 pages.
Stokes Western Regional Field Guide to Birds
Donald and Lillian Stokes are passionate about birds and wildlife - and have more than 20 years in the field studying these creatures. Their dedication is translated -- page by page -- into this comprehensive easy to follow bird identification guide. The Stokes Field Guide-Western Edition is sure to become your pocket reference guide of choice. It offers all the information a wild bird enthusiast needs including: quick color tab index, large photos, feeding, nesting, North American Habitat guide, voice, population trends, range map and other relevant information. The species accounts include common and scientific names, one to three color photos and brief comments on identifying features. The text is clearly written, accurate, and up-to-date.

Related Birds:

Common Loon
Red-necked Grebe
Yellow-billed Loon
Red-throated Loon
Pacific Loon
.
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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Family Loon (Gaviidae)_blue
Species Gavia arctica
Length22 - 28 Inches
Wingspan46.5 Inches

Arctic Loon

Arctic Loon: Medium loon with straight, stout bill, white-spotted black back, white flanks visible above water while swimming. Head and nape are gray. Neck has bold black and white stripes on sides and green or purple throat bar that may be difficult to see. Feeds on fish, mollusks, and crustaceans.

● Song: "kwow, know, know"

● Foraging & Feeding: Arctic Loon: Dives deep from the surface to catch small fish, crustaceans, and aquatic insects. When a fish is caught, the loon throws back its head and swallows fish headfirst; may fly long distances to larger bodies of freshwater or to the coast for food.

● Breeding & nesting: Arctic Loon: One to three black-spotted, olive green to brown eggs are laid in a ground nest made of soil and plants. Incubation ranges from 28 to 30 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Arctic Loon: Pacific Loon is smaller and has less white on flanks and rump.

Flight Pattern

Direct flight with rapid wing beats.
Arctic Loon Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Arctic Loon: Breeds in northwestern Alaska; occurs in coastal western Alaska, especially at St. Lawrence Island, during migration. Preferred habitats include ocean, open water, and tundra lakes (summer).
BreedingSolitary nester
PopulationUncommon to locally common
MigrationMigratory
Weight118.4 Ounces