Do loons eat birds?

What is the taxonomy of a loon?

Taxonomy. The common loon is also known as the great northern diver in Eurasia. (Another former name, great northern loon, was a compromise proposed by the International Ornithological Committee .) It is one of five loon species that make up the genus Gavia, the only genus of the family Gaviidae and order Gaviiformes.

What do Loon birds eat?

During the breeding season, it develops a distinct reddish throat patch from where it derives its name. The red-throated loon eats fish, amphibians, invertebrates, and occasionally vegetative matter. The species is monogamous and is known to exhibit long-term bonding as mating pairs. 4. Black-throated Loon

How fast can a loon fly?

Common loons are skilled in flight, sometimes reaching speeds of 70 miles (110 kilometers) an hour. Because of their relatively heavy bodies, they need a long “runway” to take off for flight and can only do so from water. Their legs trail out behind them while in flight, a characteristic held by all loons.

What is the genus and species of a loon?

It is one of five loon species that make up the genus Gavia, the only genus of the family Gaviidae and order Gaviiformes. Its closest relative is another large black-headed species, the yellow-billed loon or white-billed diver ( Gavia adamsii ). There are no recognised subspecies of the common loon.

How long does it take for a loon to migrate?

The typical length of time that it takes for a common loon to complete its migration depends on where they’re migrating from, but usually ranges between 3-6 months. The length of their migration path can be anywhere between 1,600 miles (2,575 kilometers) to 2,800 miles (4,565 kilometers).

What is the lifespan of a loon?

A loon can live for approximately twenty-five to thirty years. What do loons look like? The common loon measures about 30 inches from head to tail, has a five-foot wingspan, and weighs six to thirteen lbs. During the breeding season, the loon has a black iridescent head, red eyes, and a white necklace.

Do loons eat fish?

The common loon, like all divers, is a specialist fish-eater, as the common loon catches its prey underwater. The common loon has been seen diving as deep as 200 feet (60 m) to get its lunch.

Is a loon a duck?

Common Loon. The common loon (also known as the Great Northern Diver) is a species of bird that is most closely related to the duck, mainly due to the ability of the common loon to dive underwater in order to hunt for food.

What does a Pacific loon look like?

Breeding Pacific Loons are dapper birds with soft gray heads and intricate black-and-white patterning on the back and neck. They nest on tundra lakes, where their far-carrying wails lend a haunting sound to the Arctic landscape.

Where do loons live in the Pacific?

Pacific Loons winter on the Pacific Coast, spending most of the winter on open water, farther from shore than other loon species. In summer, they nest on large, deep tundra lakes in the far north. The most gregarious of the loons, Pacific Loons can be found in flocks of several thousand when food is abundant.

Is the common loon an endangered species?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List classifies the common loon as least concern, which means it isn’t endangered and is not close to being endangered. This may change, though.

Do Loon birds come back to the same nest?

Though awkward on land, the common loon bird is a graceful hunter on the water. This mostly cold-weather waterfowl learns to dive before it learns to fly, and will come back to the same nest with the same mate every year for almost a decade.

What kind of head does a Pacific loon have?

Formerly considered a subspecies of the Arctic Loon, the Pacific Loon is now classified as a full species. It has a smoothly rounded head and neck and a straight bill. In breeding plumage, the top of the head and back of the neck are pale gray, lighter than the face.

Are there Loons in Pacific Ocean?

Pacific Loon. Loons are large, fish-eating birds with spear-shaped bills and long, thickset necks. Because their feet are set far back on their bodies, loons move only with difficulty on land. However they are expert divers, able to remain underwater for up to eight minutes and to reach depths of up to 75 meters.

Are loons precocial birds?

(Loons are precocial birds; that is, they are well-developed at birth.) Although loons are strong fliers, all but the small red-throated loon need a broad expanse of water for takeoff. Thus, except for G. stellata, they are limited to large lakes.

Is a loon a penguin?

The Common Loon is the most widespread of the five loon species found in North America. A formidable swimmer and diver like the King Penguin or Red-breasted Merganser, this handsome waterbird is a veritable avian submarine, beautifully adapted to a life in and on the water.

What color is the head of a loon?

The head of the loon is gray in color, throat is black, the bill is whitish or gray, the mantle has chequered black-and-white plumage, and the underparts are white. The non-breeders have a drabber plumage. The Pacific loon is distinguished from the black-throated loon by the absence of a white patch at the flank.

How long do North Woods Loons stay in pairs?

After sundown, many North Woods lakes reverberate with the echoes of loon wails and yodels and tremolos (which writer John McPhee called “the laugh of the deeply insane”). In spring, loon mates arrive back on their lake separately. Loons are monogamous, and pair bonds typically last about 5 years.

What are the nesting habits of loons?

Loon nesting habits are complex and different depending on their habitat. In North America, loons nest in lakes near large trees or tall bushes for protection from wind and predation. The female builds a bowl-shaped nest out of aquatic vegetation such as bulrushes, rushes, sedges, and grasses.

Are loons omnivores?

Common loons are carnivores (piscivores) and most of their diet consists of fish. The young typically eat small minnows, and sometimes insects and fragments of green vegetation.

What do loons and penguins have in common?

Just like penguins, loons have sharp spines called “papillae” on their tongues. These papillae snag the slippery fish and hold them tight. Fast Flying – Unlike penguins, loons are efficient in the sea and in the air.

Do Loons fly faster than Penguins?

Fast Flying – Unlike penguins, loons are efficient in the sea and in the air. Loons are swift flyers, and can fly at incredible speeds. Researchers have recorded migrating loons flying up to 70 mph or faster! All loons live in or around water, and they nest next to water bodies as well. In fact, these birds actually avoid land when at all possible.

What is the difference between Arctic loons and Pacific loons?

Where the two species meet in western Alaska and eastern Siberia, the Arctic Loon has a greenish patch on its throat. Arctic Loons from the rest of Eurasia have purplish throats, similar to those of Pacific Loons.

Do loons nest in pairs on lakes?

Loons arrive in pairs on northern lakes in the spring as soon as the ice thaws. They are solitary nesters. Small lakes, generally those between 5 and 50 ha, can accommodate one pair of loons. Larger lakes may have more than one pair of breeding loons, with each pair occupying a bay or section of the lake.

How far do common loons travel for winter?

The distance between breeding and wintering grounds of the loons we monitored in Minnesota and Wisconsin ranged from 1,170 to 1,570 miles. Do common loons return to the same place to nest where they were hatched and raised as chicks?