Common Loon

A diver with four famous calls

The common loon is a heavy-bodied diving bird with a black head, a checkered black-and-white back and a dagger-shaped bill. Its legs sit far back on the body, which makes it a powerful swimmer but clumsy on land, so nests are built right at the water’s edge.

Wail, tremolo, yodel and hoot

Loons use several distinct calls. The wail is a long, rising note used to keep in touch with a mate. The tremolo, sometimes called the loon’s laugh, is a wavering call that signals alarm or disturbance. The yodel is a longer, more complex call given only by males to defend a territory, and its pattern is individually distinctive. Soft hoots are used between parents and chicks.

Sensitive to lake health

Because loons hunt by sight, they need clear water and plenty of small fish. Lead fishing tackle, acid rain, mercury pollution and shoreline development are well-documented threats, and many lake communities now monitor nesting pairs each summer.

Conservation status follows the IUCN Red List as we understand it at the time of writing. Assessments are revised regularly, so please check the IUCN Red List for the current listing.