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SPECIES PROFILE

Common Loon (Gavia immer)

Gavia

IUCN STATUS

Least Concern

Common Loon (Gavia immer) — Breeds across boreal and mixed-forest Canada into Alaska and northern US; winters on Atlantic and Pacific coasts

CONSERVATION STATUS

Least Concern

CLASS

Aves

GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE

Breeds across boreal and mixed-forest Canada into Alaska and northern US; winters on Atlantic and Pacific coasts

DIET

Carnivore

HABITAT

Clear, cold freshwater lakes with good fish visibility; requires undisturbed shoreline for nesting

🔬 Classification

PHYLUM

Chordata

CLASS

Aves

ORDER

Gaviiformes

FAMILY

Gaviidae

GENUS

Gavia

📋 Description

SIZE

70–90 cm; 3–5 kg

COLORATION

Summer: iridescent black head, black-and-white checkered back, red eye; winter: grey above and white below

ADAPTATIONS

Dense bones reduce buoyancy for deeper diving; legs set far back on body for powerful swimming; may dive to 60 m

🌿 Ecology

HABITAT

Clear, cold freshwater lakes with good fish visibility; requires undisturbed shoreline for nesting

DIET

Carnivore

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE

Breeds across boreal and mixed-forest Canada into Alaska and northern US; winters on Atlantic and Pacific coasts

REPRODUCTION

Monogamous pair returns to the same lake each year; 1–2 eggs in a low nest at the water's edge; chicks ride on parents' backs

DIET DETAILS

Fish including perch, trout, and bass caught by pursuit-diving; also crayfish, snails, and aquatic insects

⚠️ Threats & Conservation

PRIMARY THREATS

Mercury and lead poisoning from ingested fishing tackle; boat wake washing out nests; acid rain affecting fish populations

💡 Interesting Facts

1

The Common Loon appears on the Canadian dollar coin (the loonie) and its tremolo call is synonymous with the Canadian wilderness experience.

2

Loons need a long runway of open water to take flight and cannot walk on land; they must nest at the water's edge and return to the same territory year after year.

🔭 Sighting Guide

📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT

Algonquin Provincial Park, ON, has one of the highest breeding densities of Common Loons in Ontario

Killarney Provincial Park on Georgian Bay, ON, offers loon sightings on crystal-clear Shield lakes

La Mauricie National Park, QC, has abundant loons calling on its boreal lakes throughout summer

🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT

June and July for nesting pairs with chicks; best seen at sunrise and dusk from a canoe; Algonquin, Killarney, and La Mauricie are reliable parks.

🎯 SIGHTING TIPS

Summer. Listen for haunting wailing calls on any shield lake in Ontario and Quebec from May to August.