Arctic Loon

Overview

Arctic Loon: Medium loon with straight, stout bill, white-spotted black back, white flanks visible above water while swimming. Head and nape are gray. Neck has bold black and white stripes on sides and green or purple throat bar that may be difficult to see. Feeds on fish, mollusks, and crustaceans.

Range and Habitat

Arctic Loon: Breeds in northwestern Alaska; occurs in coastal western Alaska, especially at St. Lawrence Island, during migration. Preferred habitats include ocean, open water, and tundra lakes (summer).

INTERESTING FACTS

The Arctic Loon is also known as the Black-throated Diver. According to old stories, “the devil himself created the Black-throated Diver. They said that the devil had forgotten to give the bird its feet, and in his anger he threw the legs after the bird.” They sit low in the water and dive with ease. On land they are clumsy, barely able to walk with their legs so far back on their bodies. A group of loons has many collective nouns, including an "asylum", "cry", "loomery", "raft", and "water dance" of loons.