Loon is a type of water bird with a sleek body for swimming and diving. Loons have a short tail and webbed feet and look like large ducks when sitting on water. Loons use their dagger-shaped bill to catch fish. They sometimes are called divers and can feed in deep water. Their feet and legs are camouflaged to help them blend in with the sky when seen from below in the water. This camouflage helps them to catch fish. Loon eyes are a distinct red color. The word loon is thought to have come from a Scandinavian word meaning a lame or clumsy person. This name was likely given to loons because they walk awkwardly on land.
There are several species (kinds) of loons, all of which live in the northern part of the Northern Hemisphere. The best known is the common loon, also called the great northern diver. It lives during the summer on secluded lakes and rivers from the northern United States to the Arctic Circle. It often spends the winter along coastal areas as far south as Texas. It is the state bird of Minnesota. Common loons measure about 30 inches (76 centimeters) long. Their backs and wings are black with white spots. The head and neck are glossy black and green, and the neck has white streaks. The strange laughing calls of these birds echo over water and gave rise to the saying “crazy as a loon.”
Loading the player...Common loon
