(Gavia immer)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Description |
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Size |
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28″ to 35″ in length 48″ to 60″ wingspan |
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Voice |
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The alarm call is a wavering tremolo, sometimes called “loon laughter”. | ||
The contact call is a long, haunting, wail. | ||
Similar Species |
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Habitat |
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Large rivers and lakes, often with islands |
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Biology |
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Migration |
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Late March to early November |
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Nesting |
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Food |
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Distribution |
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Occurrence |
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Common migrant and breeder |
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Maps |
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The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map |
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Taxonomy |
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Class | Aves (birds) | ||
Order |
Gaviiformes (loons) | ||
Family |
Gaviidae (loons and divers) | ||
Genus |
Gavia (loons) | ||
Synonyms |
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Visitor Photos |
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Share your photo of this bird. |
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Lane Keller |
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On my kayaking trip, I found a mother loon feeding her baby. |
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Scott Bemman |
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Ramona Abrego |
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Dan W. Andree |
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Loon in Norman Co. Mn. it stayed a couple days and moved on. Guessing it just was just stopping over during migration. First time I seen one on any pond in Norman Co.... Come to think of it first loon I’d ever seen in Norman Co. |
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Gerry Garcia |
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Luciearl |
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Gull Lake did their loon count yesterday. It was a beautiful day to look for loons. |
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Christa Rittberg |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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Common Loons Bill McMullen |
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Common Loon JMC Nature Photos |
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Loons of Sherburne NWR Craig A. Mullenbach |
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About
June 10, 2012 |
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Loons Craig A. Mullenbach |
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Voices: Common Loon LabofOrnithology |
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About
Uploaded on May 19, 2010 Experience the quintessential sound of the North Woods as described by Macaulay Library Audio Curator, Greg Budney. Illustrated with beautiful photographs by Marie Read: http://www.marieread.com and audio recordings by Steve Pantle. Learn more about Common Loons at All About Birds: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Loon/id To explore more audio recordings visit the Macaulay Library: http://macaulaylibrary.org/index.do |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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Call of the Great Northern Diver (known in North America as the Common Loon) Watch in HD! qlaval |
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About
Uploaded on Aug 2, 2009 This species, like all divers, is a specialist fish-eater, catching its prey underwater, diving as deep as 200 feet (60 m). The bird needs a long distance to gain momentum for take-off, and is ungainly on landing. Its clumsiness on land is due to the legs being positioned at the rear of the body: this is ideal for diving but not well-suited for walking. When the birds land on water, they skim along on their bellies to slow down, rather than on their feet, as these are set too far back. The loon swims gracefully on the surface, dives as well as any flying bird, and flies competently for hundreds of kilometers in migration. It flies with its neck outstretched, usually calling a particular tremolo that can be used to identify a flying loon. This diver is well-known in Canada, appearing on the "loonie" coin and the previous series of $20 bill, and is the provincial bird of Ontario. Also, it is the state bird of Minnesota. |
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Loon at Goosneck Beach, "Winter Waves" - New Year's Day 2014 Don Gagnon |
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About
Published on Jan 8, 2014 Common Loon (Gavia immer), Gooseneck Beach, near Gooseneck causeway, Westport, Massachusetts, Wednesday evening, New Year's Day, January 1, 2014, 2:31 PM - Canon PowerShot SX50 HS MVI_149708; 1:19 min. Music: "Winter Waves-Megatrax" by Megatrax - Megatrax (Other, 0:59) |
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Common Loons and calls johnfredeen |
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About
Uploaded on Aug 13, 2010 Common loons as seen in Alberta in June of 2010. At least 2 nesting pairs were on the lake. Filmed with a Canon XH A1. |
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Through the Lens: Yellow-billed Loon LabofOrnithology |
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About
Published on May 1, 2012 The Yellow-billed Loon is the largest and most spectacular of the world's five loon species. It breeds around the globe in arctic and sub-arctic tundra lakes and is the northern counterpart to the Common Loon. Watch this rare video shot by The Lab's Gerrit Vyn of a mated pair calling and foraging just after arriving on the partially frozen Breeding grounds in Chukotka, Russia. |
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Common Loons in Minnesota Nathan Steffenson |
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About
Uploaded on Dec 22, 2009 Minnesota's State Bird the Common Loon. This video starts off with Lake Superior near Baptism River & Tettegouche State Park. Later goes to Long Island Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern MN. The video ends at the Mississippi River in Brainerd MN. Nathan Steffenson http://www.natesservice.info More info on loons from Minnesota DNR outside link: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/birds/commonloon.html |
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Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this bird. |
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This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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Lane Keller 9/3/2022 |
Location: Bear Head Lake State Park On my kayaking trip, I found a mother loon feeding her baby. |
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Scott Bemman 9/15/2020 |
Location: McCarthy Beach State Park |
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Ramona Abrego | Location: Lake County |
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Dan W. Andree 4/22/2020 |
Location: Norman County, Mn. it stayed a couple days and moved on. Guessing it just was just stopping over during migration. First time I seen one on any pond in Norman Co.... Come to think of it first loon I’d ever seen in Norman Co. |
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Gerry Garcia 7/3/2019 |
Location: Clearwater Lake, Wright County |
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Ramona Abrego 5/13/2019 |
Location: Becker County |
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Ramona Abrego 5/10/2019 |
Location: Becker County |
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Luciearl 7/24/2018 |
Location: Cass County Gull Lake did their loon count yesterday. It was a beautiful day to look for loons. |
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Ramona Abrego 7/15/2018 |
Location: Becker County |
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Charlene 2/23/2015 |
Do you have loons in your area? I am from Ky and want to see and hear some loons. Where might you suggest? Also what months? |
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John 2/25/2015 |
Charlene; Yes, we have many Common Loons in Minnesota. But they are not found all over the state and they tend to be reclusive. You might want to visit a state park along the north shore of Lake Superior. Another good location might be Mille Lacs State Park or Father Hennepin State Park, both on the shores of Mille Lacs Lake. Most of my loon sightings have been on small lakes accessible only by trail in state or county parks. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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