This species breeds on fairly large, deep freshwater lakes and winters on inshore waters along sheltered coasts, and occasionally inland. It feeds mostly on fish, but also on aquatic insects, molluscs, crustaceans and some plant matter. Fish are caught under water by pursuit-diving. Breeding begins in March in the south of the range, and depends on the timing of spring in the north. Nesting is solitary on heaps of plant matter near the water's edge (del Hoyo et al. 1992).

The Pacific Loon can be found in the tundra regions of Alaska (U.S.A.) and northern Canada, and the far east of Russia. During winter, its range expands to include the Pacific coast of Asia down to eastern China, as well as North America down to Baja California (Mexico) (del Hoyo et al. 1992).