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Concept
Loon
Summary
Loons (North American English) or divers (British / Irish English) are a group of aquatic birds found in much of North America and northern Eurasia. All living species of loons are members of the genus Gavia, family Gaviidae and order Gaviiformes ˈgævi.ᵻfɔrmiːz.
Loons, which are the size of large ducks or small geese, resemble these birds in shape when swimming. Like ducks and geese, but unlike coots (which are Rallidae) and grebes (Podicipedidae), the loon's toes are connected by webbing. The loons may be confused with the cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae), but can be distinguished from them by their distinct call. Cormorants are not-too-distant relatives of loons, and like them are heavy-set birds whose bellies, unlike those of ducks and geese, are submerged when swimming. Loons in flight resemble plump geese with seagulls' wings that are relatively small in proportion to their bulky bodies. The bird points its head slightly upwards while swimming, but less so than cormorants. In flight, the head droops more than in similar aquatic birds.
Archibald Thorburn Plate 77.jpg|1918 illustration of a variety of loons by [[Archibald Thorburn]]. Top: [[Common loon]], Mid-left: [[red-throated loon]], Mid-right: [[yellow-billed loon]], Bottom: [[black-throated loon]]
Gavia immer -Marshfield, Vermont, USA -flying-8 (5).jpg|Common loon flying exhibiting the typical flight profile of a ''Gavia'' species
Plongeon imbrin ailes.jpg|[[Common loon]] (''Gavia immer'') rearing up. Note the plump body and pointed but rather short wings
Yellow-billed Loon.jpg|[[Yellow-billed loon]] (''Gavia adamsii'') in winter plumage
Male and female loons have identical plumage, which is largely patterned black-and-white in summer, with grey on the head and neck in some species. All have a white belly. This resembles many sea-ducks (Merginae) – notably the smaller goldeneyes (Bucephala) – but is distinct from most cormorants, which rarely have white feathers, and if so, usually as large rounded patches rather than delicate patterns.
Official source
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