Pacific Loon

Gavia pacifica

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
ABNBA01050
Common Name: 
Pacific Loon
Scientific Name: 
Gavia pacifica
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Bird
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Aves
Order: 
Gaviiformes
Family: 
Gaviidae
References: 
B004
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

at least 2 years
References: 
MAF10

Longevity

unknown
Habitat
freshwater lakes
References: 
B004
H108
Distribution

Ecozones

Northern Arctic, Southern Arctic, Taiga Cordillera, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Cordillera, Boreal Plains
References: 
B004

Distribution

0.97; Range covers ~95% of total NT area. Range extent visually estimated from range map in "Distribution of birds in NWT & Nunavut: 2009 Review" (CWS).
Score: 
G
References: 
B004
H308
Winter Distribution Description: 
western coast from Alaska to California

Number of Occurrences

large extent of breeding range and dispersed nesting habit suggest large number of occurrences
References: 
H108

Historical Distribution

essentially all
References: 
B004

Area of Occupancy

presumed stable
Score: 
-
References: 
W118
Population

Population Size

High density in the Mack Delta and Paulatuk area (116577 km2 * 0.415 birds/km2 = 48,379) + avg densities estimated for Banks Island (0.021 birds/km2 * the rest of NT (total NT area*0.95-116,577) = 19,497 Total about 68,000.
Score: 
F
References: 
H108

Density

High density in the Mack Delta (0.415 birds/km2), Averaged densities estimated for Banks Island (0.021 birds/km2)
References: 
R262
Trends

Trends

population trends from Alaska and Yukon show no significant trend (W118)
Score: 
G
References: 
W118
Threats

Threats

oil spills, contaminants and pesticides and incidental take in fishing nets and traps
Score: 
C
References: 
B004
W118

Intrinsic Vulnerability

threats likely to occur on wintering and migration habitat - oil spills, marine pollution, overfishing
Score: 
-
References: 
B004
W118
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
S Rank: 
S5
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by Committee, Vicky Jonhston, Leslie Wakelyn, Suzanne Carriere, Jim Hines, Mike Fournier in 2000, Reviewed in 2005 by J. Hines and C. Swoboda based on printed literature only, no change in status; Reviewed in 2010;no change ; Reviewed by Ian Fife and Cindy Wood CWS in 2015, no change
Last Updated: 
February 9, 2015

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Palmer, R.S. (1976) Handbook of North American Birds - Loons through Flamingos. Yale University Press Volume 1 CWS library. Yellowknife - MAF10 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • Russell, Robert W.. (2002) The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/657a - W118 Return

Density

  • Groves, D.J. and E.J. Mallek. 2011. Migratory Bird Survey in the Western Canadian Arctic 2010. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2011) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov/alaska/mbsp/mbm/waterfowl/pdf/canadian_arctic_survey_rept_2010.pdf - R262 Return

Ecozones

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Habitat

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • Fournier M.A. (1999) Personal Communication. - H108 Return

Historical Distribution

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • Russell, Robert W.. (2002) The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/657a - W118 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

American Ornithologists' Union (1998) Check-List of North American Birds. A.O.U. Seventh Edition - MAF6 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Fournier M.A. (1999) Personal Communication. - H108 Return

Population Size

Fournier M.A. (1999) Personal Communication. - H108 Return

Range Extent

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • Cindy Wood and Ian Fife (2015) e-copy - H308 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Russell, Robert W.. (2002) The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/657a - W118 Return

Taxonomy

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Threats

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • Russell, Robert W.. (2002) The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/657a - W118 Return