Common Loon

water birds · diving birds · northern lakes

Fancy breeding outfit. In spring and summer, common loons dress up in sleek black and white feathers with a shimmering greenish or bluish sheen on their heads and necks, making them look totally different from their duller brown winter look.

Champion deep divers. These birds are built for underwater hunting, with their legs positioned so far back on their bodies that they're amazing swimmers but pretty clumsy on land.

Haunting calls. Common loons are famous for their wild, echoing wails and yodeling sounds that ring out across northern lakes on summer nights and make them unforgettable.

Marathon travelers. These birds breed on lakes in Canada and the northern United States during summer, then fly thousands of miles to spend winter on ocean coasts from Alaska to Mexico and even Europe.

Boys are bigger. Male and female loons look almost identical, but the males are noticeably heavier and more powerful swimmers.