Where do common loons live?

How many types of loons are there in Canada?

There are several species of loon in canada According to Kathy Jones of Bird Studies Canada’s Canadian Lakes Loon Survey, most species of loons are similarly “loon like.” Loon species in Canada include the recognizable black and white Common Loon, the Red-throated Loon, the Pacific Loon, the Arctic Loon and the Yellow-billed Loon.

What is a loon bird?

Loon (family Gaviidae) is a common name for a distinctive group of 5 large, swimming birds, all confined to the Northern Hemisphere and all occurring in North America. A female common loon sits on her nest, on a river system in Ontario. Baby Common Loon (Gavia immer) riding on its parent’s back – Haliburton, Ontario.

What is the difference between Arctic loon and common loon?

In the past, the Arctic Loon and Pacific Loon were grouped together under the name “Arctic Loon.” The Yellow-billed Loon closely resembles the Common Loon, although it is usually larger. It may be distinguished only by its yellow-white bill, the lower half of which angles up.

What are the different types of Loon?

1 Yellow-billed Loon. The Gavia adamsii is the largest species of Gavia. … 2 Common Loon. The Gavia immer, also known as the great northern diver, is a species of Gavia that lives in the lakes and other aquatic habitats in northern US … 3 Pacific Loon. … 4 Black-throated Loon. … 5 Red-throated Loon.

How many species of Loon are there in Canada?

The five species are Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata, Pacific Loon Gavia pacifica, Arctic Loon Gavia arctica, Yellow-billed Loon Gavia adamsii, and Common Loon Gavia immer. The Common Loon is the species best known to most of us, as its breeding range lies across most of Canada.

What color is a loon’s head?

Head color: The Common Loon has an iridescent black head. The male Common Merganser has a green head. Body color: The Common Loon has a black and white checkered back. The male Common Merganser has black and white plumage but has bright white sides.

What is the difference between a loon and a goose?

Another waterbird that is sometimes confused with a loon is the Canada Goose. Characteristics useful for distinguishing these species include: Neck length: Common Loons have short, relatively thicker necks. Canada geese have long, slender necks. Head color: The head of the Common Loon is black and iridescent.

What is the difference between a common loon and a red-throated loon?

Common Loons are heavy with large feet. Red-throated Loons are slim with a snakelike neck/head and small feet. The difference between a Common Loon and a Red-throated Loon in flight is like the difference between a Common Merganser and a Red-breasted Merganser.

What is the difference between a loon and a duck?

In fact, the loon’s body is different from a duck’s: their feet are farther back on the body, they have longer bills, and sit lower in the water than ducks do. Loons have four basic calls, which can also be shortened or combined.

What does a common loon bird look like?

Common Loons are large, diving waterbirds with rounded heads and dagger-like bills. They have long bodies and short tails that are usually not visible. In flight, they look stretched out, with a long, flat body and long neck and bill.

What is the difference between a Pacific loon and Arctic loon?

The Pacific Loon and the Arctic Loon are very similar looking birds with the Arctic Loon being the larger of the two. The Yellow-billed Loon is the largest member of the loon family and inhabits the central Arctic to the tip of Alaska. The Red-throated Loon can be found in the northern areas of North America and is the smallest of the group.

What kind of sound does a loon make?

Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive. Common Loons are famous for their eerie, beautiful calls. Among these are the tremolo, a wavering call given when a loon is alarmed or to announce its presence at a lake. The yodel is the male loon’s territorial claim. Each male has his own signature yodel.

How big do Loon birds get?

The adult common loon can range from 69 to 91 cm (27 to 36 in) in length with a 127 to 147 cm (50 to 58 in) wingspan, slightly smaller than the similar yellow-billed loon. Its weight can vary from 3.2 to 4.1 kg (7.1 to 9.0 lb).

What is the scientific name for Loon?

For other uses, see Loon (disambiguation). Temporal range: ? Late Eocene – Recent (see text) The Pacific loon ( Gavia pacifica) is the sister species of the black-throated loon ( G. arctica ). Loons (North America) or divers (United Kingdom / Ireland) are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Eurasia.

What kind of bird is a Pacific loon?

The Pacific loon ( Gavia pacifica) is the sister species of the black-throated loon ( G. arctica ). Loons (North America) or divers (United Kingdom / Ireland) are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Eurasia.

What does a black and White Loon bird look like?

The bird closely resembles the black-throated loon. It is medium-sized with a length ranging from 58 to 74 cm. 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.

What is the difference between a duck and a goose?

The most noticeable difference between the geese and duck lies in the color of their feathers. Swans, in most cases, tend to have completely white feathers. In some instances, they can also have black feathers mixed with white and, in rare cases, all black. This isn’t the case with geese that have a blackish, grey, or brown color.

What is the difference between a coot and a loon?

Like ducks and geese, but unlike coots (which are Rallidae) and grebes ( Podicipedidae ), the loon’s toes are connected by webbing. The loons may be confused with the cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae), but can be distinguished from them by their distinct call.

What is the difference between male and female loons?

Male and female loons are similar in appearance. Males are generally larger than their mates. Seasonally, the adult common loon’s plumage changes dramatically between the breeding and non-breeding seasons. Click to see full answer.

What is the difference between a red breasted merganser and a loon?

Red-breasted mergansers have ragged crests that you won’t find in common loons. These birds have green heads, while common loons have entirely black heads. Besides, red-breasted mergansers have bright orange bills, but common loons have dagger-like, black bills.