Large, bulky and low-slung: Look for loons this month

George Walter

Photo by Jill Severn

March is not really the best bird-watching month locally.

Breeding activities and migrant arrivals are sparse, and it’s often rainy. But one of my favorite Thurston County March birds, the Common Loon, offers an exception.

In addition to the Common Loon, there are three other species of loons locally and across North America – Pacific Loon, Red-throated Loon, and Yellow-billed Loon. This account will focus on the Common Loon, but the life characteristics generally apply to all loon species. They typically breed on interior lakes (the so-called “Great North Woods”) and in the Arctic.

Common loons are popular birds; they’re the state bird of Minnesota (a state with lots of lakes) and are so familiar and beloved in Canada that they are the image on the Canadian $1 coin, the so-called “Loonie.” And, because of their crazy antics and vocalizations during breeding season –  their behavior is “loony” - they have contributed to our popular vernacular.

New feathers for their visit here

After the breeding season, they molt and grow a new set of feathers in drab winter plumage, and then, as lakes freeze, they migrate to coastal areas, including here in southern Puget Sound. They are all fish-eating birds that dive, sometimes quite deeply, searching for prey.

By far the most common and easily identified loon in our area is the Common Loon. It hangs out all winter in deep water areas of Puget Sound. It is a large bird, almost goose-sized, and we usually see them from the beach as single birds, sitting low in the water somewhat off-shore. Almost as soon as you see one, it typically dives, and usually stays underwater up to a minute or more. Then it returns to the surface, in a different area, swallows its catch, and, after a moment, dives again.

Liam’s photograph of the Common Loon shows just what to look for – dark gray back and head, white throat and chest and a bold gray bill. They are large, bulky and low-slung birds. Their large, webbed feet are set far back on their bodies, which allows quick submergence and strong propulsion.

Loons molt twice yearly; about March, some of them are gaining their breeding plumage. March and April are the months to look for Common Loons in breeding plumage. Both sexes look alike, with an all-black head and bill, black and white neck and checkered back. And with all the fresh plumage, they’re a stunning site. As days get longer, these pre-breeding loons will sometimes call in the late evening with an eerie yodel, just the type of mysterious call that encourages you to ask, “what the heck was that?”

Unable to walk on land

Common Loons are the classic birds of interior North America, breeding on large lakes with abundant fish populations. They build vegetation mound nests on the edges of islands. Although having their legs placed very far back on their bodies is an effective adaptation to diving, it makes them effectively unable to walk on land. Therefore, the nest location must allow access from the water. Typically, two young are hatched and, although they can swim, they need to be fed by their parents. Also, they often ride on a parent’s back, which, of course, makes an adorable picture.

Watch them take off

There’s one final interesting loon characteristic – how they gain flight. Again, it’s the odd placement of their legs and feet. They cannot jump into flight like most other waterbirds. Rather, they have to run along the water's surface for some distance until gaining enough momentum to become airborne.

 George Walter is the environmental program manager at the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s natural resources department; he also has a 40+ year interest in bird watching. He may be reached at george@theJOLTnews.com

Photos for this column are provided by Liam Hutcheson, a 15-year-old Olympia area birder and avid photographer.