Common Loon
(Gavia immer)
| Common
Loon Information Length: 28 - 36" Habitat: Nests on freshwater lakes and rivers. Prefers lakes with islands. Winters mainly on coastal bays and inlets. |
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| Diet:
Medium-sized fish; also crustaceans, amphibians, and mollusks; occasionally aquatic plants. |
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 Identification
tips for the Common Loon |
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 More
photos of Common Loon |
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 Common
Loon sounds: tremolo and wail |
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| © The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithica, New York. Recordist: S. Pantle | ||||
 Common
Loon Nesting and Breeding |
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| Range Maps | ||||
| (Click map to enlarge) | ||||
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| Breeding Map | Winter Map (CBC) | |||
| Behavior and Habits | ||||
| The
Common Loon rarely comes onto land except during mating and the nesting
period. Its legs are placed far back on its body, making this bird
a powerful swimmer but very awkward on land. Due its heavy body, the
loon is unable to fly directly from land. Instead, it flaps its wings
and runs along the surface of the water until it gains enough speed
to take off. Unlike most other birds, loons have solid bones - which increases their weight and plays a part in their excellent diving ability. They have been known to dive up to 200 feet below the surface. The Common Loon is well known for its hauntingly beautiful voice. There are four main calls: a wail that is similar to the howl of a coyote, an undulating yodel, a soft hooting call, and a tremulous alarm call (sometimes referred to as "loon laughter"). In the early fall, Common Loons begin migrating to their winter grounds. They fly during the daytime - either singly or in groups. They spend the winter along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts, and can be found as far south as Mexico. |
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