The Birding Manual - Complete Field Guide To North American Birds (760-page ebook) John Scotts Author

SampleIdentification Tips:Length: 17 inches Wingspan: 44 inchesSexes similarImmature like basic-plumaged adult, but with less well-defined face patternDark billLarge diving bird with long body that rides low in the waterThin bill is angled upwards at... Read more

SampleIdentification Tips:Length: 17 inches Wingspan: 44 inchesSexes similarImmature like basic-plumaged adult, but with less well-defined face patternDark billLarge diving bird with long body that rides low in the waterThin bill is angled upwards at tip and is held above the horizontalFeet set far back on body, and trail behind body in flightUpperwings wholly dark in flightAdult alternate:Gray head, chin, and side of neckRed throat and striped napeWhite chest and bellyDark backAdult basic:Gray cap, forehead, nape, and backWhite chin, throat, face, and bellyGray nape not contrasting with white throatDark back speckled strongly with whiteSimilar species:Cormorants have hooked bills. Western, Clark's, and Red-necked grebes have thinner variably yellow bills and show white in the wings in flight. Other species of loons can be quite similar in appearance. In alternate plumage the paler gray head differentiates it from the darker-headed Common and Yellow-billed loons while the red throat separates it from the Pacific Loon. In basic plumage it has much less contrast between the dark nape and white throat than the Pacific Loon, lacks the jagged border present on the Common Loon, and lacks the dark auricular of the Yellow-billed Loon. In all plumages the thin, upturnedbill separates it from Pacific and Common loons while the bill is darker and smaller than that of the Yellow-billed Loon Less