Gavia immer are water birds and as such they require aquatic environments for reproduction, feeding, and living. Little is known about the early distribution of loon populations. Today however, loons reside in lakes in the northern parts of the United States and Canada. Though loons require a lake environment, not just any lake will do. The other environmental factors such as temperature, size of the lake, and prey availability play a role when a loon is choosing a home. The ideal home for a loon would have a variety of small fish, clear and cool water, and a lot of room. Loons are very territorial birds and often have a, “this lake isn’t big enough for the two of us” mentality. However, aggressive behavior to rid the territory of “outsiders” is not common. The defense mechanism used by the loons is the yodel. When encountered with danger or risk of another bird crossing territorial “boundaries” they will press their chest forward, raise their wings and perform the yodel call. This call is performed by male members of the species only. Other aquatic birds and fish inhabit this type of habitat also. Different types of fish serve as the food source for loons. This can further be seen in the Nutrition portion of this site. Though the common loon prefers this type of habitat, these conditions are not always available. Loons have learned to adapt to these less than ideal conditions. To look at the types of adaptations loons have made for different habitats visit the, Adaptation, page of this site!

    Like other birds, Gavia immer migrate north in the spring and south during the winter months. Because the spring in the northern United States is so unpredictable in terms of snow many birds end up freezing or starving to death if they return north too soon. Birds such as the grouse, quail, owl, and woodpecker have similar migration patterns as loons and often get caught in the late spring frost. Loons however have a fantastic sense for when the lakes will be clear and the cold will be gone! The north is proven to be a safer place for the loons in the summer months than the Florida coasts. The water is more calm and the waters are less polluted. Gavia immer do not fly directly from their winter vacation spot to Michigan, Wisconsin, or Canada. Loons follow any open water along the way to rest and fish. They also migrate at impressive speeds up to 80 mph, whereas ducks and geese migrate at around 50 or 60 mph. Most loons appear the day the ice clears!

  On the other hand, when the snow begins to fall and the air begins to cool loons are signaled to head south. In the later months of summer loons begin moving from smaller to larger lakes. This is where pre-migratory flocking occurs. Loons do however, migrate alone or in small groups. Most loons begin migrating south in early to mid-October, whereas others leave when ice begins to cover the lake in November.