Pacific Diver vs White-billed Diver

The Pacific Diver (Gavia pacifica) and White-billed Diver (Gavia adamsii) can be distinguished primarily by their bills: the Pacific Diver has a smaller, more slender bill, while the White-billed Diver features a larger, more robust bill with a distinct yellowish hue. Both species are found in Arctic regions but differ in their preferred habitats during breeding and non-breeding seasons.

Bill size and color: Look for the larger, yellowish bill of the White-billed Diver compared to the smaller, slender bill of the Pacific Diver. Habitat during breeding: Note that the Pacific Diver nests on freshwater ponds, while the White-billed Diver prefers lakes and slow-moving rivers.

The Pacific Diver is strictly marine outside of its breeding season, nesting on freshwater ponds in the Arctic and Subarctic tundra. In contrast, the White-billed Diver occupies lakes and slow-moving rivers in low-lying tundra regions during its breeding season.