Common Loon (Gavia immer) or Great Northern Diver

Common Loon (Gavia immer) or Great Northern Diver - Birds Around Me 0259

- December 23, 2025

The Common Loon (Gavia immer) is one of the most iconic birds of North America, admired for its eerie, echoing calls that resonate across northern lakes. Known as the Great Northern Diver in Europe, this bird is a symbol of wilderness and solitude.

Common Loon (Gavia immer) or Great Northern Diver
Iceland, July 2025

In breeding plumage, the Common Loon is unmistakable: a black head and neck with an iridescent sheen, a bold checkerboard pattern on its back, and pure white underparts. Outside the breeding season, it takes on a more subdued brownish-grey look. Adults are large, averaging 81 cm in length with a wingspan of about 1.5 meters, and a heavy, dagger-like bill built for catching fish.

Loons breed on lakes and large ponds across Canada, Alaska, Greenland, and the northern United States, with small populations in Iceland. In winter, they migrate to coastal waters along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, ranging as far south as Texas and Baja California.

Expert divers, loons can plunge to depths of up to 60 meters, using their powerful legs to chase fish underwater. They feed mainly on fish and aquatic invertebrates, surfacing with a swift, graceful motion. Their calls—wails, yodels, and tremolos—are not only haunting but also serve to mark territory and communicate with mates.

The Common Loon is the state bird of Minnesota and appears on the Canadian one-dollar coin (“loonie”), making it both a natural and cultural emblem. Its presence is often associated with pristine wilderness and the tranquillity of northern lakes.

Birds Around Me - Unfinished List (अपूर्ण सूची)
https://birds.rekabira.in/p/this-is-list-of-birds-i-clicked-since.html

Ashutosh Jhureley @BirdsAroundMe