Species: Loon Photographer: Mike Tove
Date: 28 December 2012 Location: Oregon Inlet, NC

The identification of this loon has prompted some discussion. The bird was originally identified as a Pacific Loon. That identification is supported by the face pattern, with dark coloration extending downward from the crown to, and surrounding most of, the eye, in particular in front of the eye. Also, there no spotting on the back, but there is a suggestion of a scalloped pattern. Although the bill is held very slightly above the horizontal, it is not so much so as is typical for Red-throated Loon.

However, the bird also exhibits characteristics more typical of Red-throated Loon. The head shape is not so rounded as is typical of Pacific; in particular, the bill slopes into the forehead instead of there being a steeper forehead with a rounded or even puffy-looking head as is more typical for Pacific. The neck is considerably more than 50% white, and there is not a sharp vertical dark/black separation line. There is a very slight suggestion of a convex bend in the lower mandible. There is no obvious chin-strap (although not all Pacific Loons have this, particularly first-winter birds).