Common Loon

The common loon is a large diving waterbird that breeds on freshwater lakes across northern North America and parts of Greenland and Iceland, migrating to coastal waters for the winter. It has striking black-and-white checkered breeding plumage, a sharp dagger-like bill and red eyes, and it is renowned for its haunting, far-carrying wail and yodel calls, which have become emblematic of the North American wilderness. Common loons are powerful swimmers and divers, propelled by legs set far back on the body, an adaptation that makes them excellent underwater hunters of fish but so clumsy on land that they can barely walk and must build their nests at the water's edge. The species requires large expanses of clean, undisturbed water to breed successfully, making it sensitive to shoreline development, boat traffic and water pollution, including mercury contamination and lead poisoning from ingested fishing tackle.