Gaviidae Archives - NatureWorks

Gaviidae - Loons

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

Most loons need large, clear freshwater lakes to breed. They are not very agile on land, and because their legs are set far back on their bodies, they need a long stretch of open water to take off. Clear lakes also make it easier for them to see and catch fish.

Loons are large, duck-like diving birds with long necks, rounded heads, and sharp, pointed bills. Males and females look alike, although males are usually slightly larger.

Loons are famous for their haunting, wailing calls, which echo across northern lakes.

All five species are found in North America. They are the Common Loon (Gavia immer), Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii), Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata), Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica), and Arctic Loon (Gavia arctica).

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