Loon
Loons are aquatic birds in the genus Gavia, known for their striking plumage, powerful diving ability, and haunting calls.
Loons are aquatic birds in the genus Gavia, known for their striking plumage and haunting calls. They are a familiar symbol of Canadian wilderness, appearing on the one-dollar coin.
What it is
Loons are large waterbirds built for swimming and diving rather than walking on land. They have pointed bills, webbed feet set far back on the body, and black, gray, and white plumage. Their eerie wails, yodels, hoots, and tremolos make them especially recognizable.
Where it lives and what it eats
Loons breed on freshwater lakes and ponds in northern North America, Europe, and Asia, then migrate to coastal waters in winter. They are carnivorous divers that mainly eat fish, but also take crayfish, frogs, leeches, snails, and other aquatic prey.
Why it matters in Canada
The common loon is a widely recognized symbol of Canadian wilderness and appears on the one-dollar coin. Loons are common on northern lakes across Canada, and their conservation status is generally Least Concern, though threats like lead poisoning from fishing tackle persist.
In short
- Loons are excellent divers that use their feet for propulsion underwater.
- They breed on northern lakes and migrate to coastal waters for winter.
- The common loon appears on the Canadian dollar coin.
- Their calls include wails, yodels, hoots, and tremolos.
Loons are especially familiar to Canadian readers because they are common on northern lakes across Canada, and the common loon is a widely recognized symbol of Canadian wilderness and appears on the one-dollar coin.
Quick questions
What is a loon?
Where do loons live?
Are loons endangered?
Sources
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Loon/overviewSupports: Loons are powerful divers, winter habitat, and basic ecology of the common loon.
- National Loon Center — https://www.nationallooncenter.org/about-loons/Supports: Habitat, migration, diet, and broad natural-history facts about loons.
- Britannica Kids — https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/loon/353397Supports: General description, range, calls, diet, and lifespan-related overview.
- Live Science — https://www.livescience.com/55577-common-loon.htmlSupports: Common loon calls, habitat, diet, and conservation status of the common loon.
- Loon Preservation Committee — https://loon.org/about-the-common-loon/Supports: Common loon breeding habitat, migration, diet, and conservation threats.