This largest of the commonly encountered loons is perfectly built for underwater prey pursuit. Ungainly on land, this may be the price it pays for being a great diver.

Large and blocky-headed, with a straight, robust bill, the common loon is separated from the yellow-billed by its straight bill and winter face pattern, and from smaller loons by its more angular head and often-retracted robust neck. Black head, white "necklace," incomplete black-and-white neckband, and white-checkered black back define breeding adults. Dark gray upperparts of winter adults shade to white underparts. Take-off is impossible by land and labored on water, but flight is swift, direct and steady.

It is a common to abundant transient along the Oregon coast and uncommon to locally common on large freshwater bodies, less frequent east of the Cascades.

Hear the call of the common loon

Photo by Charlotte Ganskopp