Gaviidae Archives - NatureWorks

Gaviidae - Loons

There are five species of loons, and they are found in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Most species of loon need large, clear lakes. They are not good at taking off or landing and need lots of space. They also need clear lakes so they can spot their prey.

Loons are the size of a duck. They have long necks, round heads, and pointed bills. Males and females look alike, but males are usually a little larger.

Loons are known for their haunting, wailing call. All five species are found in North America. The five species are the common loon, the yellow-billed loon, the red-throated loon, the Pacific loon, and the Arctic loon.

Yellow-Billed Loon
(Gavia adamsii)

The yellow-billed loon is the largest member of the loon family. It is also known as the white-billed diver. It breeds on lakes in the Arctic tundra of Russia, Alaska, and Canada. It winters along coastal waters on both sides of the Pacific Ocean and in Norway and the North Seas. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
Arctic Loon
(Gavia arctica)

The Arctic loon breeds on large freshwater lakes in northern Europe and Asia. It occasionally can be found in western Alaska. It winters on sheltered coasts in the northeast Atlantic, and on the eastern and western coasts of the Pacific. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Common Loon
(Gavia immer)

The common loon breeds on large lakes from Alaska and Canada south to Washington, Idaho, and Montana, the Great Lakes states, and northern New England. It winters along the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts. The common loon breeds in New Hampshire, where it is a threatened species. It also breeds in Iceland, Greenland, and Scotland and winters in coastal waters of Europe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Pacific Loon
(Gavia pacifica)

The Pacific loon breeds in the tundra regions of Alaska, northern Canada, and the Russia. It winters along the Pacific coast of Asia down to eastern China and North America down to Baja California, Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Red-Throated Loon
(Gavia stellata)

The red-throated loon is the smallest loon. It breeds all along the coast of Alaska and along the Arctic coast of Canada. It winters along the Great Lakes and the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America as far south as Florida and southern California. It winters off the coast of New Hampshire. It is also found in Europe and Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern