Common Loon

Gavia immer

Also known as:Great Northern Diver

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

71-91 cm (28-36") Most common and widespread loon. Forested lakes and rivers. Large diving bird with a stout dagger-like bill that is held horizontal.

Summer: Black head; black bill; barred black-and-white neck ring; checkered black-and-white back.

Winter: dark upperparts; white underparts; pale bill; white triangular indentation at midneck.

Song: various vocals add to the mystique of the North; yodeling and maniacal laughter; tremulous "ha-oo-oo" often given at night.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

2 photos

Credit: Larry Bond

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Loon Parents

Credit: Rick Godin

Voices: Common Loon

Credit: Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

Loading the rebuilt map…

Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Common Loon

2 rules

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 7

In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?: No · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Checkered black and white · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Green · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the NECK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Green · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Green · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:703-common-loon:1:1 Source: 703 Common Loon, row 1

Rule 2 12 criteria confidence 7

In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?: No · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Uniform · Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the NECK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Fall · Winter

result:703-common-loon:2:1 Source: 703 Common Loon, row 2