Bird of the Week: Yellow-billed Loon

The Yellow-billed Loon is very similar in size and structure with the Common Loon with a blocky head and large bill. But unlike the Common Loon, it’s bill is dull yellow, and the light plumage on the face, head and neck along with significant speckling on the light brown back help to distinguish it during it’s winter plumage. Although overwintering Yellow-billed Loons’ bill color is a dull yellow, the breeding plumage adult has a stunning bright yellow bill compared with the Common Loon’s black bill! To identify this bird during the winter, look carefully at the head structure, slightly upturned yellow bill, and pale face and neck coloration.  The photo posted shows a clear comparison with the similar Common Loon. This year the Yellow-billed Loon has been seen regularly in the same location as last year at Bodega Bay’s Spud Point Marina and close vicinity. You have a good chance of spotting the bird if you go there during the months of February or March.

The Yellow-billed Loon nests in arctic tundra regions of North American and Eurasia. Most of the 15-20 or so Bay Area sightings are almost entirely from Tomales, Bodega, or S.F. Bays or along the coast further North or South.  In 2021 one showed up along the Mokelumne River near the small town of Terminous in the Central Valley. “During the breeding season, the Yellow-billed Loon occupies lakes and slow-moving rivers in low-lying tundra regions, entirely north of the tree-line, where it nests on islands and shorelines and forages for fish and invertebrates in nearby waters. Often arriving before lake ice has fully retreated, it sometimes feeds at ice edge, even diving beneath the ice in pursuit of prey.” For more information see Cornell’s Birds of the World located at: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/yebloo/cur/introduction .