IDENTIFYING LOONS & GREBES IN COASTAL BC IN WINTER Loon & Grebe ID Sheet • 1 W ith their flashy and distinctive breeding plumage, most species of loons and grebes are fairly easy to identify, even at long distance, but in winter things get a little tougher. Nearly all are reduced to shades of white, gray, and black, making size and structure important in identification (in combination with plumage). Common Loon (COLO) • Widespread throughout BC coastal waters (fall-spring) • In general, COLOs are dark-gray above and pale below • Larger, blockier head than Pacific Loon • Partial pale collar on neck gives it a jagged look • Larger bill than Pacific Adult Common Loon in the winter (Photo: Guy Monty) Pacific Loon (PALO) • Sometimes in flocks of several hundred (fall-spring) • Tends to be more numerous offshore • Smaller than similar-looking COLO with smooth, rounded head • Often shows a dark “chin-strap” • Usually darker around eye than COLO • Small, straight bill • In flight, more slender and streamline than bulky COLO Pacific Loon in the winter (Photo: Ralph Hocken) Red-throated Loon (RTLO) • Usually not as numerous as the other two loons on the BC coast • Often found in sheltered coves/harbours, and shallow estuaries • Distinctive thin bill appears upturned • Head often peaked near the rear • Neat speckling on back • Winter adult has clean white face; juvenile shows light gray streaking • In flight, often droops its neck Red-throated Loon (Photo: Ralph Hocken) Adapted January 2018 from Bird Studies Canada publication prepared by Russell Cannings, June 2013.
Transcript
IdentIfyIng Loons & grebes In CoastaL bC In WInter
Loon & Grebe ID Sheet • 1
With their flashy and distinctive breeding plumage, most species of loons and grebes are fairly easy to identify, even at long distance, but in winter
things get a little tougher. Nearly all are reduced to shades of white, gray, and black, making size and structure important in identification (in combination with plumage).
Common Loon (COLO)
• Widespread throughout BC coastal waters (fall-spring)• In general, COLOs are dark-gray above and pale below• Larger, blockier head than Pacific Loon• Partial pale collar on neck gives it a jagged look• Larger bill than Pacific
Adult Common Loon in the winter (Photo: Guy Monty)
Pacific Loon (PALO)
• Sometimes in flocks of several hundred (fall-spring)• Tends to be more numerous offshore• Smaller than similar-looking COLO with smooth, rounded head• Often shows a dark “chin-strap”• Usually darker around eye than COLO• Small, straight bill• In flight, more slender and streamline than bulky COLO
Pacific Loon in the winter (Photo: Ralph Hocken)
Red-throated Loon (RTLO)
• Usually not as numerous as the other two loons on the BC coast• Often found in sheltered coves/harbours, and shallow estuaries• Distinctive thin bill appears upturned• Head often peaked near the rear• Neat speckling on back• Winter adult has clean white face; juvenile shows light gray streaking• In flight, often droops its neck
Red-throated Loon (Photo: Ralph Hocken)
Adapted January 2018 from Bird Studies Canada publication prepared by Russell Cannings, June 2013.
2 • BIrd Studies Canada
IdentIfyIng Loons and grebes In brItIsh CoLumbIa In WInter
Red-necked Grebe (RNGR)
• Medium-sized grebe with large yellow-green bill• Larger than Horned Grebe with less white and longer bill• Stockier than Western Grebe, with much less white• Neck often reddish-brown
Red-necked Grebe (Photo: Ralph Hocken)
Horned Grebe (HOGR)
• Our commonest wintering grebe• Smaller than Red-necked and Western with short grayish bill• White face with black crown• Often in small flocks
Horned Grebe (Photo: Mike Yip)
Adapted January 2018 from Bird Studies Canada publication prepared by Russell Cannings, June 2013.
Western Grebe (WEGR)
• Large grebe with slender build• Long neck (white throat, thin black nape) • Greenish-yellow bill, black crown, gray above cheeks & around red eye • Often seen in large wintering flocks • Dark gray back, with paler gray/silver flanks • Like other grebes, sleeps with bill facing forward (opposite of ducks)
Western Grebe (Photo: Gord Gadsden)
Cormorant ID Sheet • 1
Three species of cormorants are found in BC year-round. Predomin-antly black birds, they have a distinctive hooked, laterally
compressed bill, noticeably stiff tail feathers and naked, coloured skin on the throat. On land, they often adopt a distinctive posture standing upright with wings outstretched to dry their feathers.
Double-crested Cormorant (DCCO)
• BC’s largest cormorant• Found in both freshwater and saltwater habitats• Face is yellow/orange in all ages/plumages• Adults are all black• Juveniles have pale gray/beige breast and throat• In flight, note thick neck and bulky build
• Smallest of three BC cormorant species• Note thin neck and beak• Relatively long-tailed, noticeable when perched• Adults have distinctive white patch on rear-flanks• Adults are a glossy blackish-green overall with deep-red lores• Juveniles are all dark brownish-black; note structure• In late winter/spring, adults are brighter red around the face and
have thin white plumes on the neck
Pelagic Cormorant face and profile showing long tail (above by Mike Yip) Adult swimming showing white patch (below by Ralph Hocken)
Brandt’s Cormorant (BRCO)
• Adults are greenish-black like PECO but note thicker neck/bill• Relatively shorter-tailed than PECO• Note beige-coloured throat-patch, present at all ages• Juveniles have tan-coloured breast; compare bill colour to DCCO• More gregarious than PECO• In spring/early summer, adults have wispy white plumes on their
head, and blue skin at the base of the bill
Brandt’s Cormorant in flight (above left by Guy Monty)Adult with wispy white plumes (above right by Mike Yip)
Adult in breeding plumage swimming (below by Guy Monty)
IdentIfyIng Cormorants In Coastal BC In WInter
Adapted January 2018 from Bird Studies Canada publication prepared by Russell Cannings, June 2013.
Alcid ID Sheet • 1
Several species of the Alcid family inhabit the nearshore and offshore zones of coastal British Columbia year round. As true seabirds, they come to land to breed in large colonies and then disburse to the open ocean for most of their lives. Alcids
are relatively small, chunky birds that fly with rapid wing beats and use their wings to swim underwater. In groups, they tend to fly and swim in lines. On the water, they often hunker down and can be hard to see among the waves. Most have a smallish, pointy bill and a short, sometimes upturned, tail.
Adapted January 2018 from Bird Studies Canada publication prepared by Russell Cannings, June 2013.
Pigeon Guillemot (PIGU)
• Locally common along rocky inlets and islands of coastal BC• Winter plumage much whiter overall than murres and murrelets• Compare head/bill shape to murres and murrelets• Note bright red feet• Breeding plumage is distinctive—black body with white wing
patch , from March to September
Wintering Pigeon Guillemot (above) (Photo: Krista Kaptein)Breeding Pigeon Guillemot (below) (Photo: Mike Yip)
Common Murre (COMU)
• Larger and longer-winged than Pigeon Guillemot and murrelets• Long sharp bill, often held at an angle• Uniform dark-brown above, whitish below• Between September and March, most birds are in non-breeding
plumage
Wintering Common Murre (Photo: Terry Thormin)
IdentIfyIng AlcIds In coAstAl Bc In WInter
2 • BIrd Studies Canada
Adapted January 2018 from Bird Studies Canada publication prepared by Russell Cannings, June 2013.
Ancient Murrelet (ANMU)
• A small alcid; usually in groups• Usually offshore• Grey back, white undersides• Black face, white neck, short pale bill• Between January and September, adults have black throat (in
breeding plumage)
Wintering Ancient Murrelet (Photo: Eric Ellingson)
IdentIfyIng AlcIds In BrItIsh columBIA In WInter
Marbled Murrelet (MAMU)
• A small alcid; usually solitary or in pairs• Often close to shore• Black back with white bars, white undersides• Black cap, white neck, dark bill• Between April and September, adults are mottled brown (in
breeding plumage)
Wintering Marbled Murrelets (Photos: Mike Yip)
Rhinoceros Auklet (RHAU)
• Larger than Pigeon Guillemot, murres and murrelets• Drab greyish above, whitish belly• Stout yellowish bill• Brighter in breeding plumage
