This little plush Common Loon is made by
Wild Republic and is part of their Audubon Bird Series.
The Common Loon (Gavia immer) is, as its
name implies, the most common of the loons. Its size ranges from
28 to 36 inches long with a 58 inch wingspan. It has a yodel-like
laugh, which is given frequently, near the nest and in flight,
especially at night. It is generally silent in winter. In winter
the head and neck are darker than the Red-throated
Loon. Common loons migrate in small flocks heading to the coast.
In flight the head is lower than the body. The wingbeats are
fast and uninterrupted by gliding.
Loons are excellent swimmers and divers.
Their powerful legs, attached at the rear of the body, give additional
leverage to the large webbed feet. Loons spend most of their
time in the water and only come ashore to breed and to nest.
The Loon can begin its dive by hopping up and forward or it can
also quietly submerge from a sitting position. They can dive
to 200 feet. Loons eat fish, crustaceans, and some water plants.
Loons like to build their nests near the edge of lakes and rivers.
When built among reeds the nest can be large and bulky. Other
nests are no more than an indentation filled with plant material.
There are two to three dark brownish olive eggs spotted with
dark brown. Both parents tend the nest. Incubation takes about
29 days.
The breeding grounds are all the way from Alaska's Aleutian Islands
south through Canada to California, Montana and Massachusetts.
The Common loon winters along the Great Lakes, the Gulf Coast,
and the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. They also breed in Greenland
and Iceland.
Order: Gaviiformes | Family: Gaviidae
| Species: Gavia immer
