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By Peter Herbst
Geographic Range
The Pacific Loon is found along the Western Coast of the United States during the fall and winter, and in Northern Canada and Alaska where they migrate for the breeding months of the spring and summer.
Habitat
Pacific Loons reside for the most part along the eastern coast of the Pacific Ocean and Arctic Ocean along Canada's northern boundary. They can also be found in inland waterways and even lakes occurring along their migratory paths. They are sensitive to disturbances, especially those created by humans, and are most likely to occur in remote areas. Their nest are found right along the shoreline and will be abandoned if receding waters cause the nest to be too far from the edge of the water. Recently loons have become a pest on lakes that are commercially stocked with fish.
Aquatic Biomes:
lakes and ponds; coastal 
.
Physical Description
The Pacific Loon's head is black which extends down the back of its neck and back where there are some mottled white spots. On its underside the color is white extending from its bill to its belly. Its average length is 66 cm.
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; bilateral symmetry .
Reproduction
Pacific Loons are monogamous as long as the relationship is producing offspring. Breeding takes place in the spring and summer and is relatively noncompetitive once a mate is found for the males defend territories and mate with the same female each year. Loons are extremely awkward on land and venture out of the water only to nest. Broods usually include a total of two eggs, one of which is laid a few weeks before the second. This first egg also is the first to hatch, and it is brooded while the other egg is incubated. The older offspring assumes the dominant position in the nest and will be the first to be feed throughout its development. During times of inadequate food resources parents commonly continue feeding their older offspring, leading to the death of its younger sibling.
Key reproductive features:
iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; oviparous .
Behavior
When loons have young, they will often transport them on their backs to decrease chances of predation and to keep the young chick warm. The young are completely dependent on their parents for the first 5-7 weeks but by the eighth week it will have developed fishing abilities to go off on their own. When finding mates, fighting will occur between the males in the population. Males use their beaks to spear their competitors and they often mortally wound each other.
Key behaviors:
flies; motile .
Food Habits
The Pacific Loon feeds mainly on small fish and other aquatic life. Fishing is conducted beneath the surface where they make good use of well-developed air sacs, which allow them to pursue their prey for extended periods.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
Loons may be considered pests by commercial fishermen, who see them as competitors
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Loons are aesthetically pleasing to observe in the nature and they are well known for their distinctive calls, which commonly occur at night.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: [link]:
Least Concern.
US Migratory Bird Act: [link]:
Protected.
US Federal List: [link]:
No special status.
CITES: [link]:
No special status.
State of Michigan List: [link]:
No special status.
Pacific Loons are found in low concentrations during the winter months and in higher densities during the breeding months. This loon is combating human pressures well, but populations may decrease in the future. Recent studies are looking into the magnification of chemicals in the loon's body due to pollutants being added to the ecosystem and the loon being near the top of its food chain. The Pacific Loon's range is growing smaller as human development encroaches on its preferred habitats.
Other Comments
The Pacific Loon, until recently, was considered to be the same species as the Arctic Loon, but the two are now distinguished as separate species.
Contributors
Peter Herbst (author), University of Michigan.
