Calls of the Loon:

• Tremolo: known as the "laugh" used to signal alarm or worry

• Wail: sounds like a "wolf's howl" used to gain contact

• Yodel: produced only by males used as territorial marker

Breeding:

• begins breeding at three or four years of age

• typically mate for life

• return to same lake/territory during breeding season

• only go ashore to mate and incubate eggs

• usually lay 1 to 2 large olive-brown eggs each season

Diving:

• can dive for about a minute

• feathers are compressed and air is expelled from air sacs in the body

• losing air allows them to sink below the surface to avoid danger

Range:

• spend summers in northern lakes

• spend winters on coastal seas, particularly inlets, bays and coves

Five Species of Loons:

• Common Loon (Gavia immer)

• Red-Throated Loon (Gavia stellata)

• Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)

• Artic Loon (Gavia artica)

• Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii)

Plumage:

• molts twice a year, once in fall and again in late winter

• Summer:

  • checkered black and white back

  • iridescent black head and neck

  • white necklace around throat

  • white underside

• Winter:

  • dark gray above

  • white underside

Body Structure: (designed for swimming and diving)

• weigh up to 14 pounds

• large webbed feet for propulsion underwater

• legs located far back on body for ease of movement in water but awkward movement on land

• dense bones (rather than hollow) make body less buoyant for diving but causes flying to be more difficult

• 42 to 58 inch wingspan for lifting their heavy bodies

• large black spear-like bill for catching food

Loon Chicks:

• incubation period 28-30 days after eggs are laid

• can swim right away but spend much of their time on their parent's back for warmth, rest and protection from predators

• independent and able to fly 12 weeks after hatching