The Common loon is a large aquatic bird that spends most of its life in water and comes out on land only to nest. A long-bodied, low-slung diver. Diet. During the breeding season, loons spend their days feeding, preening, resting, and caring for their young.At this time of year, common loon diet consists primarily of fish. The specific fish a common loon eats depends on where it spends most of its time. Diet.
Breeding adults have a plumage that includes a broad black head and neck with a greenish, purplish, or bluish sheen, blackish or blackish-grey upperparts, and pure white underparts except some black on the undertail coverts and vent. The common loon eats lots of fish. For loons near coastal areas, dinner means flounder, herring, rock fish and sea trout. Breeding adults have a broad black head and neck with a greenish, purplish, or bluish sheen, blackish or blackish-grey upperparts, and pure white underparts. It is an expert at diving into water to hunt. In winter, silent and more subtly marked, Common Loons inhabit coastal waters and large southern lakes. Loons preferentially feed upon species such as yellow perch, pumpkinseed, and bluegill because their erratic swimming behavior makes them easy for loons to catch. Common Loons do not breed until they are 5 years old, and often not until 7 or older. Many people consider the loon a symbol of wilderness; its rich yodeling and moaning calls, heard by day or night, are characteristic sounds of early summer in the north woods. They will also eat a variety of other aquatic animals, such as crayfish and shrimp, as well as vegetation. Common loon diet. The common loon feeds primarily on fish.Common loons will often consume their prey underwater, instead of bringing it to the surface to eat. In Washington, there are 20 confirmed Common Loon nesting locations, and 8-10 nests were found each year in the 1990s. In such places they are solitary while feeding, but may gather in loose flocks at night. Fresh and saltwater fish are the primary diet of Common Loons. However, both adults and juveniles also regularly eat crustaceans, especially crayfish, and aquatic invertebrates. During the summer, adults eat many species of freshwater fish, including yellow perch, suckers, shiners, and occasionally small trout. The common loon or great northern diver (Gavia immer) is a large member of the loon, or diver, family of birds.