Common Loon Sounds, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Common Loon with babies on back, adult with young, taken in southern MN

This winter is driving us as crazy as a loon! Graber the loon is a smaller individual, making us suspect she's a younger female. While we do get a few loons every year, Graber is the first loon we've had outside of breeding season in quite a while. Loons look like an entirely different species during different times of the year (breeding vs. non-breeding months). During warmer seasons, they're starkly monochrome with more checkered white on their backs and ruby red eyes. Males and females have t

Loon Spotted For The First Time Since Being Released From Prison

Happy Loon Fact Friday! Loons bathe to keep their feathers clean, healthy, and waterproof. They remove parasites, dirt, and debris and this act often looks extreme. It involves vigorous splashing, rolling, diving, and thrashing, which helps to flush water through their feathers and maintain the essential waterproofing that keeps them warm and buoyant on the water. While this behavior can seem alarming it is a normal and necessary part of a loon's self-maintenance, not a sign of distress! #FunFac