Pacific Loon
Gavia pacifica
Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) — Grebes, Loons & Flamingos of North America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) is a member of the Gaviidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 2.3 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Gaviiformes
- Family Gaviidae Loons
- Genus Gavia
- Species pacifica
Where it lives
High Arctic to subarctic: Yana and Indigirka rivers east to Chukotka (north-central, northeastern Siberia), Wrangel I. (north of northeastern Siberia), Alaska, west-central British Columbia, and northern Canada to Baffin I. and James Bay (northeastern, southeastern Canada)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.3 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Gaviidae
- Order
- Gaviiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Pacific Loon hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Pacific Loon is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) is a member of the Gaviidae family, within the order Gaviiformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers NA, PAL high Arctic to subarctic: Yana and Indigirka rivers e to Chukotka (nc, ne Siberia), Wrangel I. (n of ne Siberia), Alaska, wc British Columbia, and n Canada to Baffin I. and James Bay (ne, se Canada).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2.3 kg, with a wing length of about 29.1 cm and a tail of around 4.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 5.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Pacific Loon?
The Pacific Loon is a very large bird that weighs around 2.3 kg.
Where does the Pacific Loon live?
The Pacific Loon is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering NA, PAL high Arctic to subarctic: Yana and Indigirka rivers e to Chukotka (nc, ne Siberia), Wrangel I. (n of ne Siberia), Alaska, wc British Columbia, and n Canada to Baffin I. and James Bay (ne, se Canada), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Pacific Loon belong to?
The Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) belongs to the Gaviidae family, in the order Gaviiformes.
What does the Pacific Loon eat?
The Pacific Loon hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Pacific Loon migrate?
The Pacific Loon is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Pacific Loon endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Pacific Loon make?
1 real field recording of the Pacific Loon — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Pacific Loon's range?
The Pacific Loon has a mapped global range of about 5.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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