Facts about Great Northern Diver
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Known in North America as the Common Loon, the Great Northern Diver is the provincial bird of Ontario and appears on the Canadian one-dollar coin.
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Loons possess legs positioned so far back on their bodies that they cannot walk upright on land, making them nearly helpless when away from water.
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A Great Northern Diver's skeleton comprises approximately 40 percent of its body weight, providing the density necessary for underwater propulsion without air sacs like other diving birds possess.
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During migration, Great Northern Divers travel between arctic breeding grounds and coastal wintering areas spanning thousands of miles across North America and Europe annually.
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Eggs of Great Northern Divers typically number just one or two per clutch, with incubation lasting approximately 29 to 30 days before chicks hatch.
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Black and white plumage with a distinctive checkered back pattern helps Great Northern Divers blend into dappled water while breeding on northern lakes during summer months.
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In North America, Great Northern Divers typically weigh between 3.5 and 5 kilograms, making them among the heaviest diving birds in their range.
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The Great Northern Diver's haunting wail call can travel up to two miles across water and serves as territorial communication during breeding season.
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Diving to depths exceeding 200 feet, the Great Northern Diver can remain submerged for up to three minutes while hunting fish underwater.