How long can a loon dive underwater?
The average length of a loon dive is about one minute but they have been recorded underwater for 10 to 15 minutes. This however was when the loon was disturbed and was extreme.
How long can a loon hold its breath?
Loons can live as long as 30 years and can hold their breath for as long as 90 seconds while underwater. Loons find their prey by sight. They eat mainly fish, supplemented with amphibians, crustaceans and similar mid-sized aquatic fauna.
What are some fun facts about Loons?
Fun facts. The extra weight helps them dive as deep as 250 feet to search for food. They can stay underwater for up to five minutes. Because their bodies are heavy relative to their wing size, loons need a 100- to 600-foot "runway" in order to take off from a lake. Loons can fly more than 75 miles per hour.
How fast can a loon fly?
Common loons are skilled in flight, sometimes reaching speeds of 70 miles (110 kilometers) an hour. Because of their relatively heavy bodies, they need a long "runway" to take off for flight and can only do so from water. Their legs trail out behind them while in flight, a characteristic held by all loons.
How far can a loon dive underwater?
200 feetAlmost wholly aquatic, loons can swim long distances underwater and can dive from the surface to a depth of 60 metres (200 feet). Besides having solid bones, loons can further decrease their buoyancy for these dramatic dives by compressing air from their lungs, feathers, and internal air sacs.
How do loons stay underwater so long?
Loons are well equipped for their submarine maneuvers to catch fish. Unlike most birds, loons have solid bones that make them less buoyant and better at diving. They can quickly blow air out of their lungs and flatten their feathers to expel air within their plumage, so they can dive quickly and swim fast underwater.
Can loons breathe underwater?
People watching loons are often amazed at how long they can stay underwater. When you see a loon dive, you'd better not hold your breath until it comes back up. Most loon dives last between 8.5 and 60 seconds. But under stress, loons can remain underwater for about three minutes.
Why can't loons walk on land?
Loons walk clumsily on land; that's how they got their name, according to National Geographic. They are unable to walk easily on land because their legs are located far to the rear of their bodies, according to the Audubon Society.
Do loons sleep in the water?
Because they are not well built for life on land, loons typically sleep in the water. They take short naps (15 minutes in duration, on average). To sleep, a loon turns its neck and folds its head down to rest on its back. During the nesting period, loons may sleep while incubating.
Are loons really crazy?
The "loon" that means "a crazy, foolish or silly person" comes from the Middle English "loun." Originally, this "loon," which entered English in the 1400s, meant "a lout, idler, rogue," and later this negative definition was extended to mean "a crazy person or simpleton."
How old do loons live?
Loons are a long-lived bird. The oldest known common loon lived 25 years but their lifespan may be up to 30+ years.
Why do loons call at night?
The wail is frequently heard during night chorusing. The hoot is a soft, short call that is typically used for short range communication between members of a loon family unit (paired adults and their chicks). Loons may also hoot to communicate with rival loons during low-level territorial interactions.
Why are loons not ducks?
Loons, unlike coots and grebes, do have webbed feet. But their legs are like grebes in that they're placed very far back on their bodies, making them unable to walk on land like ducks.
What are baby loons called?
Goose: Gosling. Grouse: Cheeper, squealer. Guineafowl: Keet. Loon: Loonlet.
What is a group of loons called?
A group of loons can go by many names, including a raft, a waterdance, a cry and an asylum.
Are loons aggressive?
Adult loons can also be very aggressive towards each other, Fighting fiercely to the point that they sometimes cause serious or fatal injuries, such as sternal puncture wounds, to each other.
Can a loon take off from land?
Loons and grebes are perfectly adapted for swimming, diving and taking off and landing on water. But, once grounded, loons cannot take off. Their legs are too far back on their body for them to walk on land.
How far can a loon fly in a day?
670 milesHow far can common loons fly in one day? In one documented case, a loon traveled 670 miles within a 24-hr period. In another case, a loon traveled distances of 360 and 505 miles during two consecutive days.
Are loons aggressive?
Adult loons can also be very aggressive towards each other, Fighting fiercely to the point that they sometimes cause serious or fatal injuries, such as sternal puncture wounds, to each other.
Where do Canadian loons go in the winter?
It spends the winter months along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America, from Alaska and Newfoundland in the north to Mexico in the south, as well as in Europe and Iceland. During the spring and summer months, the Loon prefers to nest on lakes with clear water, making it easier to find prey.
How long does it take for a loon to fly?
Young loons don't fly until they are more than two months old .
How deep can a loon dive?
The extra weight helps them dive as deep as 250 feet to search for food. They can stay underwater for up to five minutes. Because their bodies are heavy relative to their wing size, loons need a 100- to 600-foot "runway" in order to take off from a lake. Loons can fly more than 75 miles per hour.
What are the sounds of a loon?
Sounds: The common loon has four calls. The tremolo, which sounds a bit like maniacal laughter, is an aggressive call. The wail is a long, drawn-out sound. The hoot, a shorter call, is used to communicate among parents and young. The yodel is sounded by male loons guarding their territory.
How much does a loon weigh?
The male is slightly larger than the female, but otherwise the two sexes look identical. Weight: Adult loons weigh 8 to 12 pounds. Color: The common loon has a black bill and a red eye. In summer it is a spotty black and white with a black/iridescent green head.
How old do loons have to be to breed?
Loons don't begin breeding until they are three or four years old. The male chooses a territory and attracts a mate. Together the male and female build a nest out of reeds and grasses on the edge of the water. They take turns incubating the one to two eggs the female lays.
Where do loons live in Minnesota?
Habitat and range. Loons are found on lakes throughout central and northeastern Minnesota. In September, Minnesota's adult loons travel to their winter home along the Atlantic coast from North Carolina south to Florida, or on the Gulf of Mexico. Younger loons follow a month or so later.
Does Minnesota have a lot of loons?
Minnesota has more loons (roughly 12,000) than any other state except Alaska. Threats to loons include human disturbance and pollutants such as lead and mercury. The DNR monitors loon populations with the help of volunteers to improve understanding of what our state bird needs to maintain a strong, healthy presence here.
Range
- The common loon is a water bird that lives in the Northern Hemisphere. The species can be found throughout North America, Europe and Asia. It breeds mainly in northern parts of Canada, Russia and Scandinavia.
Size
- How big is the common loon? The average size of a Common Loon ranges from 27-29 inches long and has a wingspan of about 4 feet. Male loons are usually larger than females, but it can be difficult to tell them apart. The biggest differences between males and females are that males have brighter plumage with more reds and blues, while females’ feathers appear more brownish …
Food Sources
- Common Loons eat fish, amphibians, crustaceans, rodents, muskrats, insects, larvae and plants. Fish is their main food source; however they will scavenge for other types of prey if needed. These birds are often seen floating scanning for fish below the surface of the water. It’s not uncommon to see them diving head first into the water from a great height in order to catch a meal. It’s belie…
Predators
- The adults are mainly only threatened by bald eagles, and ospreys, but their eggs and young fledglings can fall prey to foxes, mergansers (a type of duck), snapping turtles, raccoons, otters, and fish such as muskie and northern pike. Another threat is from human activities. Fishing equipment such as lures, hooks, fishing lines, and nets can cause them to become entangled in t…
Habitat
- The loons have a diverse habitat, they live on freshwater lakes and ponds or saltwater coastal habitats such as estuaries. Loons may also inhabit large inland waterways that have plenty of shallow areas where it can rest comfortably on the bottom of the riverbeds.
Antisocial
- Common loons are a type of bird that is not known for being sociable. In fact, they have the reputation of being one of the most antisocial birds in North America. This notion comes from their tendency to stay away from others and avoid interacting with them at all costs. However, this was disproved by scientists who found out that common loons do interact with other types of bi…
Sounds
- The Common Loon is a large bird that has an unmistakable sound. The Loon’s song consists of three to five notes the wail, tremolo, hoot, and yodel. These notes are generally low, medium, and high. Each of the notes has two variations namely the loud and softer note. This common loon makes these sounds in succession during courtship displays and territorial fights with other loo…
Population
- Although it is not known exactly how many loons exist, it is estimated that there are about 500,000-700,000 individual birds that are found in North America. Most of them are found in the southern part of the United States and Canada.
Migration
- It migrates during autumn to winter in the Southern Hemisphere, while it spends its winters on lakes near its breeding grounds. The migration route starts from the Arctic Ocean and goes south through Northwest Territories, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Montana and South Dakota before reaching Texas by October or November. The typical length of time that it takes for a common l…