Common Loon
Gavia immer

Common loons can be found only on a few lakes within the North Cascades Ecosystem. They arrive from their winter ocean homes soon after the ice breaks up on the lakes.

By the time common loons arrive on the inland lakes, they have changed out of winter dark gray backs and white-bellied attire into the breeding plumage of iridescent dark green heads with white collars, black-and-white backs, and white bellies.

Their diet consists mainly of fish, but they will vary it with frogs, reptiles, insects, and aquatic plants.

They need a long water runway to become airborne because of their heavy bones and webbed feet, placed far back on their bodies. Once in flight, they travel great distances rather quickly. The disadvantages of heavy bones and rear feet placement become an advantage for diving, in that loons can dive down to 300 feet.

The breeding pair selects a grassy bank or floating log extending from shore in which to create a nest, where the female lays eggs that will be tended by both parents.

Their eerie, laugh-like call has awakened many a wilderness traveler.

They are rather intolerant of human activity.