gavia immer

1. Bird Name
Scientifically known as Gavia immer, the bird is popularly known as the Common Loon or Great Northern Diver. It’s an iconic symbol of the Northern Hemisphere’s wilds and wilderness.

2. Appearance
The Common Loon exhibits an elegant appearance with bold black and white plumage during the summer. Characterized by piercing red eyes, its beak is straight and pointed, usually in a dark grey to black color. The top of its head, back, and wings are primarily blackish, speckled with white spots. The underparts, especially the belly and undersides of the wings, exhibit a contrasting bright white. Its neck is ringed with a bold striped black and white pattern. During winter, the plumage turns to a uniform gray on the upperparts and white on the underparts. There are no significant differences between males and females in this species.

3. Size
The Common Loon boasts impressive dimensions. Typically, they measure between 66-91cm (26-36inch) in length, with a sizable wingspan ranging from 127-147cm (50-58inch). The weight varies from 2.7 kg to 6.3 kg making it one of the heavier bird species capable of flight.

4. Habitat & Distribution
Primarily aquatic birds, Common Loons spend most of their time on lakes, reservoirs, and coastal waters. They prefer clear water bodies where they can spot their prey easily. During the breeding season, they choose secluded, forested lakes and ponds. A Nearctic migrant, their habitats span across Canada, Northern United States, Iceland, Greenland, and pockets of the United Kingdom in Europe. The birds migrate south during the winter, often as far as the Gulf of Mexico.

5. Interesting Facts
Common Loons are incredible divers, capable of diving up to depths of 70 meters to catch their prey. Another engaging fact about these birds is that they are unable to walk properly on land due to their rear-end legs meant for powerful swimming. Additionally, the Common Loon carries cultural significance. It is the provincial bird for Ontario and appears on the Canadian one-dollar coin, often referred to as the “loonie.”

6. Diet
Primarily piscivorous, the Common Loon’s diet relies heavily on fish. However, they also include smaller aquatic creatures, such as shellfish, amphibians, crustaceans, and occasionally even aquatic plants in their diet.

7. Behavior & Sounds
Common Loons are known for their haunting and melodic calls. Their call repertoire includes tremolo, yodel, hoot, and wail, each serving a distinct function, from signaling alarm to communicating location. Known for their extraordinary parental care, both parents share the responsibility of caring for the young.

8. Conservation Status
With a large, widespread population, the Common Loon is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

9. Lifespan
Common Loons exhibit a substantial lifespan, with an average longevity of up to 30 years in the wild.

10. Additional Notes
In French, it’s known as “Plongeon huard,” and in Spanish as “Colimbo grande”. They have a mutualistic relationship with humans, often being used as an indicator species for water quality, since they tend to avoid polluted water bodies. They play a crucial role in their ecosystem due to their diet helping control the population of certain fish and invertebrate species.