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Common Loon

Gavia immer ORDER: GAVIIFORMES FAMILY: GAVIIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

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The eerie yodel of the Common Loon is a symbol of the wild North. The territorial call of the male loon can be heard from lakes across Canada to the very northern United States.

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Appearance

Ducklike
Ducklike
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Large waterbird.
  • Long pointed bill.
  • Long body slopes to rear.
  • Sits low on water.

Immature Description

Juvenile similar to nonbreeding adult, but head more uniformly dark with more distinct edge between light underparts and dark upperparts. Back feathers edged with light, giving a scaled appearance. Bill paler, but still with dark upper edge.

Range Map Help

Common Loon Range Map
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Field MarksHelp

  • Breeding adult
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    Common Loon

    Breeding adult
    • Large and heavy-bodied with thick neck
    • Distinctive black and white pattern on back and wings
    • Partial white collar on neck
    • Glossy black head with thick, black bill, and red eyes
    • © Josh Merrill, Gunflint Lake, Minnesota, July 2009
  • Breeding adult
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    Common Loon

    Breeding adult
    • Heavy-bodied waterbird with dagger-like, black bill
    • Thick black neck with white-patterned collar
    • Black and white patterned back
    • Glossy black head
    • © J.M. Kosciw, Battersea, Ontario, Canada, August 2009
  • Nonbreeding adult
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    Common Loon

    Nonbreeding adult
    • Large and heavy-bodied
    • Thick neck and stout, gray-black bill
    • Gray scalloped back
    • White throat and chest
    • © Jim Paris, Barnegat Inlet, New Jersey, December 2008
  • Nonbreeding adult
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    Common Loon

    Nonbreeding adult
    • Large-headed and heavy-bodied
    • Thick, dagger-like bill
    • Dark gray back
    • Plain white throat and chest
    • © Cameron Rognan, Humboldt Bay, California, August 2006
  • Juvenile
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    Common Loon

    Juvenile
    • Large and heavy-bodied with stout, silver-gray bill
    • Fine scalloping on gray back
    • Partial white collar
    • © Bill Lynch, Shark River Inlet, New Jersey, December 2010
  • Juvenile
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    Common Loon

    Juvenile
    • Large and heavy-bodied with thick neck
    • Juvenile is paler and more sandy-colored than adult
    • Fine scalloping on back
    • Stout, pale gray bill
    • © Jim Paris, Barnegat Inlet, New Jersey, January 2011
  • Breeding adult on nest
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    Common Loon

    Breeding adult on nest
    • Distinctive black and white markings on back and wings
    • Glossy black head with glowing red eyes
    • Dagger-like black bill
    • Violet sheen on glossy black neck with partial white collar
    • © Mike Wisnicki, Bonaparte Lake, British Columbia, Canada, May 2011
  • Breeding adult with chick
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    Common Loon

    Breeding adult with chick
    • Heavy-bodied with dagger-like, black bill
    • Adult distinctive with black and white markings
    • Chick fluffy dark gray overall
    • © Stuart Oikawa, Nopiming Provincial Park, Manitoba, Canada, July 2011
  • Breeding adult
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    Common Loon

    Breeding adult
    • Large and heavy-bodied
    • Small wings
    • Glossy black head with thick, black bill
    • Bright white belly and partial white collar on neck
    • © Andy Johnson, Interlochen, Michigan, August 2010
  • Breeding adult in flight
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    Common Loon

    Breeding adult in flight
    • Distinctive shape in flight with legs trailing behind short tail
    • Neck extended with obvious, dagger-like bill
    • Slender wings
    • White below with solid black head
    • © Andy Johnson, Bass Lake, Michigan, July 2009
  • Breeding Adult
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    Common Loon

    Breeding Adult
  • Juvenile
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    Common Loon

    Juvenile
    • © Bill Lynch, Shark River Inlet, New Jersey, December 2010
  • Adult Nonbreeding
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    Common Loon

    Adult Nonbreeding
  • Adult Nonbreeding
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    Common Loon

    Adult Nonbreeding
    • © Jim Paris, Barnegat Inlet, New Jersey, January 2011

Similar Species

  • Nonbreeding adult
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    Red-throated Loon

    Nonbreeding adult
    • Smaller and more delicate than Common Loon
    • Slender bill, often pointed upward
    • Bright white face surrounding small, dark eye
    • Distinctive white speckling on gray back
    • © Brian L. Sullivan, Monterey Harbor, California, January 2007
  • Juvenile
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    Red-throated Loon

    Juvenile
    • Smaller and more slender than Common Loon
    • Thin bill, often pointed upward
    • Gray back with faint white speckling
    • Dull gray neck with no obvious collar or pattern
    • © Brian L. Sullivan, Moss Landing, California, April 2007
  • Nonbreeding adult
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    Pacific Loon

    Nonbreeding adult
    • Smaller than Common Loon
    • Even division between gray and white on neck
    • No obvious collar mark
    • Thin, dark "chinstrap" sometimes visible
    • © Jim Gilbert, Deal, New Jersey, March 2007
  • Nonbreeding adult with Common Loons
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    Pacific Loon

    Nonbreeding adult with Common Loons
    • Pacific (in foreground) smaller and more slender-billed than Common Loons (in background)
    • Even separation between gray and white on neck
    • Thin "chinstrap" usually visible on adults
    • © Jim Gilbert, Deal, New Jersey, March 2007
  • Juvenile
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    Double-crested Cormorant

    Juvenile
    • Similar to Common Loon at a distance
    • Hooked yellow bill distinctive
    • Longer neck than loons
    • No white on chest or throat
    • © Bill Thompson, Provincetown, Massachusetts, November 2011

Similar Species

  • Cormorants have longer necks and blunt-tipped or slightly hooked bills and are not white on chest or throat.
  • Yellow-billed Loon has ivory-yellow bill with dark only at the base of the upper edge. In winter, neck is paler with dark ear patch.
  • Red-throated Loon has more slender bill usually held more upward, paler face in winter, and neck without pale collar.
  • Pacific Loon is smaller with even division between gray and white on side of neck, lacks pale collar. Lacks the Common Loon's white around the eye.

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    Spirit of the North: an intimate portrait of the Common Loon. Story and photos in Living Bird magazine.