Pacific Loon
Gavia pacifica
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderGaviiformes (Loons)
- FamilyGaviidae (Loons)
- GenusGavia (Loons)
- SpeciesGavia pacifica (Pacific Loon)
About the Pacific Loon
The Pacific loon or Pacific diver (Gavia pacifica) is a medium-sized member of the loon, or diver, family. The Pacific loon, previously considered conspecific with the similar black-throated loon, was classified as a separate species in 1985. The genus name Gavia comes from the Latin for "sea mew", as used by ancient Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder. The specific epithet pacifica is Latin for the Pacific Ocean, the term meaning "peaceful".
The phylogeny of this species is debated, with the black-throated loon and the Pacific loon traditionally being considered sister species, whereas a study using mitochondrial and nuclear intron DNA supported placing the black-throated loon sister to a clade consisting of the Pacific loon and the two sister species that are the common loon and the yellow-billed loon. In the former phylogeny, the split between the Pacific loon and the black-throated loon is proposed to have happened about 6.5 million years ago.
Breeding adults are like a smaller sleeker version of common loon. They measure 58–74 cm (23–29 in) in length, 110–128 cm (43–50 in) in wingspan and weigh 1–2.5 kg (2.2–5.5 lb). They have a grey... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Pacific Loon in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kenai Fjords National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Wrangell-St. Elias National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 4 | Acadia National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Point Pelee National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 6 | Wood Buffalo National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 7 | Katmai National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Bahía de Loreto National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 9 | Denali National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Pacific Loon in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Pacific Loon sighting in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, based on 77 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Pacific Loon in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for Pacific Loon in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in our monthly data.