Bird Description

Common tundra breeder. Winters on the ocean, occasionally coming into bays. Scarce inland. Has traditional spring gathering locations. ID: Smallest and slimmest loon. Easiest to confuse with cormorants. Small pointed head with thin bill characteristically tilted upwards, obvious at long range. Nonbr: gray-spotted upperparts but overall impression is of a very clean bird with white-necked and white-faced appearance. Juv similar but grayer around throat and neck with contrasting white chin. Rarely seen in breeding plumage on wintering grounds. Breeding plumage more uniform than in other loons. Red throat often appears black. In flight, small size, slim build, slim angled-back wings, face pattern, and lack of obvious protruding feet are key features. Migrates in loose flocks, often circa 100ft above ocean.