Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) is in the Loons family (Gaviidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,444 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Pacific Loon: observations by month (U.S.)
About Pacific Loon
The Pacific loon or Pacific diver (Gavia pacifica), is a medium-sized member of the loon, or diver, family.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Pacific Loon by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1,611 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Alaska | 760 | June | May–Aug |
| Washington | 302 | May | May–May |
| Oregon | 216 | November | Oct–Feb |
| Texas | 66 | January | Nov–Jan |
| Colorado | 62 | November | Oct–Jan |
| Arizona | 49 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Massachusetts | 41 | February | Jan–Mar |
| Minnesota | 29 | May | May–May |
| New York | 29 | February | Jan–Feb |
| Ohio | 26 | April | Apr–Apr |
| New Jersey | 22 | March | Jan–Mar |
| Tennessee | 22 | December | Dec–Mar |
| Idaho | 19 | November | Oct–Nov |
| Montana | 17 | October | Oct–Dec |
| North Carolina | 16 | January | Jan–Feb |
| Florida | 14 | February | Jan–Feb |
| Utah | 14 | November | Oct–Nov |
| Nevada | 13 | November | Oct–Dec |
| Pennsylvania | 12 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Virginia | 8 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Indiana | 7 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Nebraska | 7 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Wisconsin | 7 | April | Apr–May |
| Michigan | 6 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Mississippi | 6 | May | May–May |
| New Mexico | 6 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Oklahoma | 6 | December | Nov–Jan |
| Wyoming | 6 | November | Oct–Dec |
| District of Columbia | 5 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Illinois | 5 | November | Oct–Nov |
| Missouri | 5 | October | Oct–Oct |
| South Dakota | 5 | December | Nov–Dec |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Loons)
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Pacific Loon?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from March to June.
Where is Pacific Loon most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Alaska, Washington.