Note that if you purchase something via one of our links, including Amazon, we may earn a small commission.
There’s a reason the loon has graced our $1 coin since it was minted in 1987 — is there any bird more iconically Canadian? Several species call Canada home, but the common loon, with its white-speckled plumage and white “necklace” (not to mention those traffic-light-red eyes) is the most recognizable. Here are five facts you may not have heard about Gavia immer, our great Northern diver.
In Its Bones
The loon really is a great diver; it has the ability to propel itself down more than 60 metres and chase after, then snag, dozens of small fish prey per day. (In one summer, an adult loon can eat 250 kg of fish.) Unlike most other birds, loons have solid, not hollow, bones. This is great for diving, but not so great for getting airborne. A loon needs at least 30 metres of water runway to take off. That said, in flight, it can reach 120 km/h. That’s nowhere near as fast as, say, a peregrine falcon, but it’s a decent speed for a bird that can weigh more than six kilograms.
Sounds Like Summer
The common loon’s breeding range covers almost all of Canada, with the exception of the extreme north and the extreme south of Ontario and the Prairies. And anyone who’s spent time on a large Canadian lake in the summer has heard the bird’s haunting calls. There’s the wail, for long-distance communication; the tremolo, a.k.a. the “crazy laughter” that both males and females produce when they perceive a threat; and the yodel. Only males yodel, and it’s almost always in response to intruders — humans, other birds — encroaching on their space. They’ll extend their necks as a way to project the sound better and to make their message hit home: back off, buddy.
Baby Alert
Loons lay eggs in May and June. A mated pair works in tandem — in shifts of 2–4 hours — incubating and guarding the eggs, which are stashed in shallow, grassy nests at the lake’s shoreline. Once the chicks (often two) are born in early summer, the co-parenting continues. One adult stays with the youngsters while the other goes fishing. Chicks can swim within a day of hatching, but they’ll still regularly ride on Mom or Dad’s back to rest or stay warm. By the time they’re about a month old, they can catch small prey for themselves, and they become more independent.
Bye Bye, Birdie
Loons migrate south at the end of the summer. They often make the journey in groups, which is why, by the end of August, you might spot loons congregating — a behaviour called “rafting.” Loons are highly territorial, but by this time of year, with the breeding and baby-tending done and dusted, that instinct wanes. Loons also raft in their wintering grounds (on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts and in the Gulf of Mexico), but there, a raft might be unrecognizable to a Canadian. In winter, the birds lose their flashy summer plumage and look downright drab: dark grey with a white breast and belly. Even their striking eyes grow duller, turning a deep reddish-brown. It’s not breeding season, so heck, who do they have to impress?
It’s a Hard Loon Life
It’s no secret that our common loons are facing threats, including shoreline development, water level fluctuations, and boating disturbance (boats coming too close to a nest, for example, can cause adult loons to abandon it, leaving the eggs vulnerable to predators). Fishing tackle made of lead remains a well-documented danger for loons. In some parts of North America, up to 43% of loons die from lead poisoning caused by ingesting lead sinkers or hooks attached to prey. Loons can also mistake lead sinkers for pebbles, which they swallow to help with digestion (other waterbirds do this too). But happily, with lots of lead-free options on the market these days, anglers can choose loon-safe alternatives.
