Common Loon

Common Loon, adult breeding plumage

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Common Loon, adult winter plumage

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

The eerie yodel of the Common Loon is a symbol of the wild North. The territorial call of the male loon can be heard from lakes across Canada to the very northern United States.

Description

• Large waterbird.
• Long pointed bill.
• Long body slopes to rear.
• Sits low on water.

• Size: 66-91 cm (26-36 in)
• Wingspan: 104-131 cm (41-52 in)
• Weight: 2500-6100 g (88.25-215.33 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes alike in plumage, male larger.

Sound

Call a tremulous wail.

Conservation Status

Numbers decreased across the south part of the range in the early to mid-20th century, but increased in the last third of the century. Poisoning by mercury in aquatic ecosystems and by lead from fishing sinkers can be significant caues of death.The North American Loon Fund is a nonprofit conservation organization that sponsors research, management, and educational programs throughout North America in an effort to check the population decline of the Common Loon and other loon species.

Other Names

Plongeon huard (French)
Colimbo mayor, Colimbo común (Spanish)
Great Northern Diver (British) (English)

Cool Facts

• The Common Loon swims underwater to catch fish, propelling itself with its feet. It swallows most of its prey underwater. The loon has sharp, rearward-pointing projections on the roof of its mouth and tongue that help it keep a firm hold on slippery fish.

• Migrating Common Loons occasionally land on wet highways or parking lots, mistaking them for rivers and lakes. They become stranded without a considerable amount of open water for a long takeoff. A loon may also get stranded on a pond that is too small.

• Loons are water birds, only going ashore to mate and incubate eggs. Their legs are placed far back on their bodies, allowing efficient swimming but only awkward movement on land.

• The Common Loon is flightless for a few weeks after molting all of its wing feathers at the same time in midwinter.

Sources used to construct this page:

McIntyre, J. W., and J. F. Barr. 1997. Common Loon (Gavia immer). In The Birds of North America, No. 313 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.