Great Northern Loon

Gavia immer

Description:

Breeding adults have a black head, white underparts, and a checkered black-and-white mantle. Non-breeding plumage is brownish, with the chin and foreneck white. The bill is black-blue and held horizontally. The bill colour and angle distinguish this species from the similar Yellow-billed Loon. Adults can range from 61 to 100 cm (24–40 inches) in length with a 122–152 cm (4–5-foot) wingspan. The weight can vary from 1.6 to 8 kg (3.6 to 17.6 lbs). On average a Great Northern Loon is about 81 cm (32 inches) long, has a wingspan of 136 cm (54 inches), and weighs about 4.1 kg (9 lbs).

Habitat:

Found on a small shallow lake in Northern Wisconsin.

Notes:

The adults have been banded, the male was banded a year ago, the female this spring. The little one was about 3 weeks old when these photos were taken. It was already starting to fish, or at least dive and mimic its parents. This little one is learning quickly what it is to be a Great Northern Loon. If there is enough interest in this series, I am rather certain I will post a second series shot the second day of viewing showing the little guy acting just like his parents.

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16 Comments

williefromwi 11 years ago

Thanks so much CarolSnowMilne for your kind words.

williefromwi 11 years ago

Thanks so much for the wonderful comment, and for following me Alina. I try to have high quality photos of my subjects in all my spottings. I have many other spottings up on Project Noah and am always willing to take on new friends on Facebook, where I post many more.

CarolSnowMilne 11 years ago

Great series!

alina 11 years ago

fantastic shots! great photos, a very nice moment, just lovely!

williefromwi 11 years ago

Thanks Ashley, I am glad you enjoy my photos. I am using a Nikon DSLR camera, and Nikkor lens as well. The camera is a DX crop framed body. I am more then willing to share additional information as to lens, and even camera settings if you are willing to email me for that information. My email address is on my profile page, or you can simply cut and paste it from here. It is williefromwi@hotmail.com I will say this, that if one knows their camera, any camera with a zoom lens is more then capable of getting quality static shots, and that includes a point and shoot with a zoom. If you are after flight shots, I highly recommend a DSLR.