Gliding across quiet lakes throughout the forests of Canada, the common loon is a large waterbird that spends nearly its whole life on or beneath the surface. Despite a duck-like silhouette, the loon is more closely related to other diving birds than to any waterfowl; its dense, almost solid bones, unusual among birds, make it heavy enough to sink and chase prey deep underwater. Both males and females wear the same striking black-and-white breeding plumage, and a thick, waterproof coat lets the loon endure long hours on cold northern water. Although it was once widespread, this hardy bird declined sharply as lakeshores were developed and polluted, before careful protection allowed its numbers to recover.
The loon's most remarkable trait is the placement of its legs, set so far back on its body that the bird can barely walk on land. What makes it clumsy ashore, however, turns it into a superb swimmer: the loon uses those powerful rear legs to drive itself after fish, staying submerged for a minute or more on a single dive. Its narrow, dagger-shaped bill seizes slippery prey with ease, and its red eyes are thought to help it see clearly in the dim water below. Each summer the parents make countless dives to feed their small brood.
