View range map of Common Loon

The Common Loon is a large diving bird of wetland habitats. The haunting whinny of this bird is characteristic of northern freshwater lakes and ponds across Canada, Alaska and in small numbers at locations in the northern United States. The checkered plumage and striped neck ring of the Common Loon distinguish this species from any other. Common Loons migrate from their inland nesting grounds south, to winter along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America, and into northern Mexico. The diet of the Common Loon consists mainly of fish and also aquatic invertebrates. The birds dive in pursuit of prey and capture and consume their food underwater. Common Loons are seasonally monogamous, with pairs forming in the spring and separating at the end of the breeding season before migrating and wintering to separate locations. The pair will reunite the following year and may breed together over five years or more. The nest is constructed from floating vegetation in a marsh or bog. Both birds help with construction and maintenance, and the nest may be used over multiple seasons if the initial nesting attempt is a success. The clutch consists of two olive brown eggs which are incubated by both parents for about 28 days. The chicks are semi-precocial and able to follow their parents into the water within hours of hatching, and ride on the parents' back. The young are dependent on their parents for food however. Both parents provide food for the chicks, which gradually learn to hunt for themselves until they are independent at about 11 weeks of age. The young Common Loons wander during their first winter and may not return to the breeding grounds until their third year. The Common Loon is an indicator species for habitat quality and is listed as a Species of Concern by USFWS. Loss of nesting habitat and pollution of wetlands are serious threats to this species. Development of coastal wintering habitat, recreational and other human disturbances at breeding and wintering locations threaten the birds' ability to thrive. Provision of artificial nesting platforms and restoration of habitat have been successfully undertaken at some locations. Subsistence hunting in Canada and Alaska can impact numbers locally, however overall numbers of Common Loons remain stable at this time.