Common Loon
Gavia immer
The state bird of my home state of Minnesota, the Loon has always been at the heart of any north woods wilderness experience for me. They are called "common" loons, but in the United States, are only common in Minnesota, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and Alaska, with scattered populations in other northern states. In Canada, however, they are common enough that they appear on the Canadian dollar coin (the looney).
We were watching a pair from the canoe on Rock Lake in Algonquin Provincial Park when this one suddenly surfaced near the canoe.
Those who know loons will recognize that this was taken on an overcast day; in the sun, the head is an iridescent greenish-black. The red eyes are supposedly good for seeing underwater, where these birds spend a good deal of their time catching fish.
Common Loon
Gavia immer
The state bird of my home state of Minnesota, the Loon has always been at the heart of any north woods wilderness experience for me. They are called "common" loons, but in the United States, are only common in Minnesota, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and Alaska, with scattered populations in other northern states. In Canada, however, they are common enough that they appear on the Canadian dollar coin (the looney).
We were watching a pair from the canoe on Rock Lake in Algonquin Provincial Park when this one suddenly surfaced near the canoe.
Those who know loons will recognize that this was taken on an overcast day; in the sun, the head is an iridescent greenish-black. The red eyes are supposedly good for seeing underwater, where these birds spend a good deal of their time catching fish.