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The
loon (N.Am.) or diver (UK) is a type of aquatic bird found
in many parts of North America and northern Europe. A
loon is the size of a large duck, to which it is unrelated;
its plumage is largely grey or black, and it has a spear-shaped
bill. The loons compose a genus (Gavia), family (Gaviidae),
and order (Gaviiformes) all their own. These were previously
considered the most ancient of the northern hemisphere
bird families, but it has recently become clear that the
Anseriformes (ducks, geese and swans) and the Galliformes
(the pheasants and their allies) are older groups. The
European name diver comes from the bird's habit of catching
fish by swimming calmly along the surface and then abruptly
plunging into the water; the North American name loon
comes from the bird's haunting, yodeling cry, a symbol
of the Canadian wilds. |
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Loons
swim well, and fly adequately (their bones are much denser
than those of most birds), but are almost hopeless on
land, and the larger loons have difficulty taking off,
becoming airborne only after skimming the surface of the
water for a couple of hundred meters. Because these birds
locate their prey underwater mainly by sight, they prefer
lakes with clear water. Loons breed on inland freshwater
lakes and ponds, but move to the coasts in winter, and
often move much further south. The nest is usually a mound
of plant material close to water. A pair may mate for
life. Loons can live as long as 30 years. |
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