Common Loon

Gavia immer

Unlike most birds, loons have solid bones which act like a diver's weight belt, helping them dive to depths of up to 200 feet.

Scientific name

Gavia immer

Taxonomy

Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Gaviiformes › Gaviidae › Gavia

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Population trend

stable

Biome

wetland

Habitat

Clear, deep freshwater lakes with islands for nesting during summer; coastal marine environments during winter.

Diet

Piscivorous; primarily small fish like perch and sunfish, as well as crayfish and leeches.

Range

Canada, Northern United States, Greenland, Iceland, Western Europe

Size

Length: 66-91 cm; Wingspan: 127-147 cm; Weight: 3-5 kg

Lifespan

20-30 years

Active

diurnal

Threats

Lead poisoning from ingested fishing sinkers, mercury pollution, and shoreline habitat destruction.

Safe to approach?

Harmless but highly sensitive to disturbance. Maintain a distance of at least 150 feet, especially while boating, as wakes can drown nests. If the bird begins 'dancing' upright on the water or emitting a tremolo call, you are too close and causing stress. Never handle; their dagger-like beaks are used for defense.

The common loon or great northern diver ( Gavia immer ) is a large member of the loon, or diver, family of birds. Breeding adults have a plumage that includes a broad black head and neck with a greenish, purplish, or bluish sheen, blackish or blackish-grey upperparts, and pure white underparts except some black on the undertail coverts and vent. Non-breeding adults are brownish with a dark neck and head marked with dark grey-brown. Their upperparts are dark brownish-grey with...

Photo: Matt Felperin, CC-BY, via iNaturalist

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