A loon’s legs are placed far back on its body, allowing for excellent swimming in water but making them ungainly on land. Loons have bones that are more dense than bones of most other flying birds. These heavy bones make loons less buoyant, which helps them to dive.

Feb 10, 2025 · 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.

BRI researchers have marked Common Loons across western North America with colored leg bands. Color-marking and resighting of loons allows us to monitor breeding individuals, calculate annual return rates to territories, track local movements and migratory routes, and determine overwintering areas.

Jan 21, 2025 · Of the world’s five loon species, I see the Common Loon (Gavia immer) the most. This isn’t surprising because, as its name suggests, it’s the most abundant loon in the ABA Area, with 13,500 territorial pairs in the U.S. and 243,000 in Canada.

Common Loons are vulnerable due to a number of factors, including the following: Water levels can affect loon nesting. Rising water can flood a nest. If the water level drops: caused by reservoir drawdowns for power, for example: loons may abandon their nest. Their legs are so far back on their bodies that they move awkwardly on land.

Palmer (1962: 22) records the legs of the Common Loon as "black on outer side paling to medium gray on inner; webs of feet dark with flesh colored centers." Bannerman (1959: 272) reports "The tarsus is black externally and whitish internally."

Its legs are placed far back on its body, making this bird a powerful swimmer but very awkward on land. Due its heavy body, the loon is unable to fly directly from land. Instead, it flaps its wings and runs along the surface of the water until it gains enough speed to take off.

Their powerful back legs and large webbed feet allow them to dive underwater for several minutes at a time. Their legs are set far back on their body, and while this is a great adaptation for swimming, it makes loons very awkward on land.

The Common Loon is one of five loon species that exist worldwide and is the only loon that breeds in the relatively low latitudes of the contiguous United States. ... A Common Loon leg is carefully outstretched to measure. Measurements, such as tarsus length, is collected by researchers to better understand individual and population changes ...

Aug 31, 2018 · Dozens of photographers from around the world have come to Stan Tekiela’s home state of Minnesota to photograph and learn the behaviors of the common loon, the iconic bird of the Northwoods. Here is his report!