Species BirdsCommon Loon

Common Loon

Gavia immer

CommonBird
Illustration of Common Loon (Gavia immer)

The Common Loon is the iconic bird of northern lakes, its haunting yodel and tremolo wails carrying across still water at dusk. Extraordinarily dense bones allow it to dive to depths of 200 feet and stay submerged for five minutes while chasing fish. It can barely walk on land because its legs are positioned far back on the body for diving efficiency.

Habitat
Clear boreal lakes in summer; coastal bays and ocean in winter
Diet
Fish, crayfish, frogs, and aquatic invertebrates
How common
Common

Recent Common Loon sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spot a Common Loon? Identify it instantly.

Point Huck at any plant or animal and get an instant ID, rarity, and field notes — building your personal nature collection as you go.

Get Huck — free

More birds

Acorn Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
American Avocet
American Avocet
Recurvirostra americana
American Bittern
American Bittern
Botaurus lentiginosus
American Black Duck
American Black Duck
Anas rubripes
American Coot
American Coot
Fulica americana
American Crow
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
American Flamingo
American Flamingo
Phoenicopterus ruber
American Golden-Plover
American Golden-Plover
Pluvialis dominica