Sample
Identification Tips:
Length: 17 inches Wingspan: 44 inches
Sexes similar
Immature like basic-plumaged adult, but with less well-defined face pattern
Dark bill
Large diving bird with long body that rides low in the water
Thin bill is angled upwards at tip and is held above the horizontal
Feet set far back on body, and trail behind body in flight
Upperwings wholly dark in flight
Adult alternate:
Gray head, chin, and side of neck
Red throat and striped nape
White chest and belly
Dark back
Adult basic:
Gray cap, forehead, nape, and back
White chin, throat, face, and belly
Gray nape not contrasting with white throat
Dark back speckled strongly with white
Similar 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, upturned
bill separates it from Pacific and Common loons while the bill is darker and smaller than that of the Yellow-billed Loon
