Ed, thanks for posting the photos of the Common Loon seen on Saturday. Comparing these images to the most recent video still Jon posted on Flickr really shows the diagnostic differences between the two birds. No disrespect Ed, but I can't see anything in Jon's photos that is not a perfect fit to a Pacific Loon. The sleek and slightly down curved bill, rounded head shape, thick cobra-like neck, (thus appearing disproportionately large-headed relative to its small body), contrasting black and white plumage with only a narrow white cheek strap on a mostly dark head. A narrow dark strap across the throat is also clearly visible on some of the frontal shots on the bird, supposedly another clincher field mark for this species. I simply don't understand what renders this observation inconclusive, because in my view this bird is a "text-book" exemplar!
Respectfully,
Frode Jacobsen
Windsor Mill,MD
--
|