DESCRIPTION
- summer coat:
black and white "checkered" back and wings, black head, white belly and white under wings,
white "necklace" (band) around the throat
- winter coat:
dark grey head and neck,
greyish feathers with white spots
- young birds have greyish feathers, white belly and white under wings
- large, pointed, black bill; red eyes
- average weight is 4.1 kg (9 lbs); can vary from 2.7 to 6.3 kg (6 to 14 lbs)
- length 80 cm (almost a metre from bill to tip of outstretched feet)
- wingspan 1.2 metres (4 ft)
Mother Loon and Chicks photo by: Ken Watson, 2001 (used with permission)
Photo, taken in early September, shows two loon chicks (about
two and a half months old).
They are almost adult size, but will not get the adult summer
colouring for three years.
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