Yellow-billed Loon - BirdForum Opus

Gavia adamsii

Photo by Cancoot

Identification

ALSO KNOWN AS YELLOW BILLED DIVER

(Gavia adamsii)

Range

In North America breeds in northern Alaska and north-central Canada including many of the Arctic islands. In Eurasia breeds on the Arctic coast but range little-known. Has bred on Novaya Zemlya but main range lies to the east. May have further west in the Varanger area of Norway, on the Kola Peninsula and on Ostrov Kolguyev.

Winters in Pacific in small numbers off Kamchatka and northern Japan and in varying numbers on the coast of North America from southern Alaska to California, vagrant to Baja California. Rare in Europe but small numbers occur from southern Norway to the White Sea, off northern Scotland and on passage in the Baltic. Vagrants recorded south to Spain and Italy.

Habitat

Breeds on tundra lakes but coastal on passage and in winter.

Identification

The largest diver with large pale bill which has a straight culmen but angled lower mandible giving a characteristic appearance enhanced by habit of holding bill at an upward angle as in much smaller Red-throated Diver G. stellata. Adult breeding: Similar to Great Norther G. immer with white-chequered black back and glossy black head with white �necklaces�. Differs in large, yellowish-white bill. Adult non-breeding: Similar to Great Northern but generally paler, particularly around the head and hindneck and face much whiter with dark eye isolated in white face. Head and neck paler than back but at all seasons bill is the best distinguishing feature.

Length 75-91cm. Wingspan 147cm.

Voice

Resembles Great Northern but louder and harsher.

Breeding

Begins late June-July and nests beside water often on an island or spit. Nest is a shallow scrape beside water or rarely a more substantial mound of vegetation. Eggs: 2 (1 in replacement clutch), olive-brown, paler than Great Northern, with sparse black blotches (89 x 56mm). Incubated by both sexes for 29-30 days. Young tended by both sexes, feed themselves at 40 days and fly at about 72 days

Diet

Fish, also molluscs and crustaceans caught during 60-120 second dives.

External Links

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