Arctic Loon

During the breeding season, the Arctic Lon boasts striking black-and-white plumage. Its head and neck are glossy black, offset by distinctive white stripes on the neck and a checkerboard pattern on the back. The bird's dagger-like bill is jet black, complementing its overall striking appearance.

In winter, the plumage becomes duller, with the upper parts turning greyish-brown and the underparts white. Juveniles resemble winter adults but have a more mottled appearance on the back and wings.

During the breeding season the adult male calls with a loud, long wailing sound similar to, ‘oooooweeee – oooooooweeee’. Outside of the breeding season arctic loons are silent.

The bird’s breeding region extends predominantly across Northern Eurasia from Scandinavia south to the United Kingdom and across arctic Russia and Siberia to Kamchatka.

Of the two sub-species, Gavia arctica viridigularis also breeds in Russia and in North West Alaska on the Seward Peninsula. This particular sub-species can be identified by its green-coloured throat.

It migrates to the North West pacific coast and also Korea whilst the nominate overwinters in the Baltic, Atlantic, North Sea coasts, South to the bay of Biscay and areas within the Mediterranean, Southeast China and Japan.

Arctic Loons are generally solitary birds although will gather in small flocks during the summer. Breeding normally takes place on islands within large lakes which are remotely situated.

The bird is clumsy on land due to the position of its legs and has to take off and land on water, running along the surface whilst flapping its wings.

It is, therefore, rarely, whilst on dry land, far from the water’s edge. Whilst swimming, its sits quite low with the minimum amount of body above the surface.

An extremely proficient diver, the arctic loon dives deep down for fish, its favoured diet, although it will also take aquatic invertebrates, crustaceans and plants.

The start of the breeding season in the northernmost regions occupied by arctic loons is heavily dependent upon the Spring thaw. Those birds who breed in more southerly areas usually do so between April through to July.

A simple nest, consisting of a shallow scoop sited adjacent to the water’s edge or a more ambitious floating arrangement constructed from mud and waterside vegetation, are prepared by both parents.

One brood of 2 eggs variously shaded in brown are produced annually and incubated predominantly by the male for between twenty-three to twenty-eight days. Fledging occurs up to two months later.

Arctic Loons are exceptional divers, capable of staying submerged for up to a minute while hunting fish. On land, they move awkwardly because their legs are positioned far back on their bodies, an adaptation for efficient swimming.

During the breeding season, pairs engage in elaborate courtship displays, including synchronised swimming and haunting duets.

The lifespan for an arctic loon is up to twenty years.

While currently listed as Least Concern, Arctic Loons face threats from oil spills, fishing net entanglement, and habitat degradation. Climate change poses a significant long-term risk, potentially altering their breeding habitats and prey availability.

Conservation efforts focus on protecting breeding sites and migratory stopover points.

In adult breeding plumage, the upper parts are predominantly black with white squares across the mantle at the base of the neck and the shoulders. The head and neck are a soft grey with narrow black and white stripes on either side of the neck running vertically, from an area level with the chin, to almost in line with the top of the chest.

There are two sub-species, one having a black throat and the other a green throat. The base of the throat and top of the chest have thin white vertical parallel lines on black, morphing into a white middle chest and remaining underparts, including the flanks.

At the top of the throat, there is a short spotted necklace of white dots which run horizontally under the chin. The bill is dark grey, and the legs are black and set far back on the body, making walking difficult but swimming and diving an art form.

The iris is a dark red contrasting easily with the smoky grey head.

In non-breeding (winter) plumage, the adult has a white throat and loses the white patternation across the mantle and shoulders. The stripe patterns on the neck and chest disappear, and the back changes to a scaly dark brown or black with a medium to dark shaded cap extending downwards, almost to the level of the eyes.

Adult males and females are similar in both plumages. The juvenile bird is predominantly dark brown with a light brown head and white flanks.