Every one of the pictures posted here for the Wanapum
is clearly and unequivocally a Common Loon. The bill
alone eliminates both Pacific and Arctic. In the photo
with another Common Loon, both individuals are the same
size Arctic Loons should be 15% smaller.

White sidewalls is not a stand alone field mark. Head
shape, bill shape and overall size all have to match.

Charles Swift wrote:
>
> All -
>
> Here is a web site that Jane Westervelt put together with several pictures
> of the loon in question. If others have pictures please send them to her at
> jwesterv at uidaho.edu or westerveltj at netscape.net so she can add the to the
> site.
>
> http://www.uidaho.edu/~jwesterv/Loonacy.html
>
> In my judgement the loon pictured is most probably a Common Loon based on
> overall shape and size of head (and to a lesser extent the bill). Also head
> and neck appear to be same shade where in Pacific/Arctic the head and neck
> should appear slightly lighter in color. Granted these pictures are probably
> not sufficient to make a positive ID but that is the impression one gets. I
> think there might be too much emphasis on white flanks in discussions of
> this bird where other features seem to indicate otherwise(indeed this may
> have been what prompted the initial id.).
>
> It seems that Common Loons can be somewhat variable in fall/winter and
> whenever I am unsure about a winter plumage loon initially it always turns
> out to be a Common Loon. In contrast, the few Pacific Loons I have seen here
> in the interior have jumped out at me right away. Other comments??
>
> thanks, Charles.
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Charles E. Swift
> Moscow, ID, USA
> charless at moscow.com
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

--
Mike Patterson
Astoria, OR
celata at pacifier.com

A child who becomes acquainted with the birds about him
hears every sound and puzzles out its meaning with a cleverness
that amazes those with ears who hear not.

-Neltje Blanchan

http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/bird.html