Loon: The Mysterious Voice of Northern Lakes

The Loon is a striking water bird best known for its haunting, echoing calls that drift across quiet lakes and northern wilderness. Often symbolizing solitude and wild beauty, loons are expert swimmers and divers, spending most of their lives on water. Their unique voice and elegant black-and-white plumage make them one of the most recognizable birds in freshwater habitats.

Fun Facts

• A loon’s call can travel up to several kilometers across water.
• Loons have solid (dense) bones, unlike most birds, helping them dive deeper.
• They can dive up to 60 meters (200 feet) to catch fish.
• Loons are clumsy on land but incredibly graceful in water.
• The Common Loon is the national bird of Canada.
• They can stay underwater for up to 90 seconds while hunting.

Scientific Information

• Common Name: Loon
• Scientific Name: Gavia immer (Common Loon)
• Family: Gaviidae
• Order: Gaviiformes
• Class: Aves
• Habitat: Freshwater lakes (breeding), coastal oceans (wintering)
• Diet: Fish, crustaceans, aquatic insects
• Lifespan: 20–30 years in the wild

Habits & Behavior

• Loons are strong divers, using their webbed feet to propel themselves underwater.
• They are mostly silent during winter and vocal mainly in breeding season.
• Loons are monogamous and often return to the same lake each year to nest.
• Nests are built very close to water, allowing quick escape from predators.
• They migrate long distances between northern lakes and southern coastal waters.
• Loons communicate using different calls for territory defense, mating, and alarm.