Courtesy of John Rockwood

Loon Watching the Responsible Way: A Guide to Understanding Loon Behaviors

The Common Loon is an iconic species that has captivated generations of people who spend time on northern lakes. Watching these incredible birds can be a serene and rewarding experience. Here at the Loon Preservation Committee, we want people to enjoy observing and connecting with loons; however, it is important to remember that like all wild animals, loons can be negatively impacted by human activities. Close approach by humans can cause loons to stop performing the normal behaviors that they need to do in order to keep themselves well fed and healthy.  As we observe loons, we need to give them the space that they need to focus on taking care of themselves and their chicks. On this page, we provide photos and descriptions of loon behaviors that indicate when they are feeling relaxed, concerned, and stressed. We hope that these guidelines are helpful and allow you to enjoy some guilt-free, responsible loon watching!

Concerned Loons

Subtle changes in head and neck posture can indicate that a loon is concerned about how close you are. Keep an eye out for the behaviors described below, all of which indicate that a loon is becoming stressed and needs more space.

Raised/Squared off Brow: A nervous loon will often raise the feathers on its forehead, giving a ‘squared off’ look. 

Extended Neck: A loon that is aware of or concerned about a potential threat will stretch its neck, lifting its head high in the air to better evaluate the situation.

Sitting Low in the Water: If they detect a threat, loons will squeeze air out of the spaces between their feathers, allowing them to sink low in the water. This is an attempt to appear inconspicuous to the perceived threat.

Moving Away: One of the first things that a loon will do if it is bothered by the presence of a boat is swim away. If a loon swims away from you, please allow it to get away. Pursuing/chasing loons puts them under stress.

Vocalizations: Any vocalization given by a loon when you are in close proximity can indicate that it is stressed. If loons begin to call as you approach, it is best to back away to avoid causing them more stress.

Loon with neck extended. Photo courtesy of Kittie Wilson.
Squared off brow. Photo courtesy of Mark Wilson.
Loons low in the water. Photo courtesy of Brian Reilly.

Stressed Loons

The following behaviors indicate extreme stress. If you see a loon performing any of these behaviors, please back away until it resumes a more relaxed position.

Hangover Position: When nesting loons feel threatened, they will assume the ‘hangover’ position, flattening their bodies over their nests and angling their heads towards the water. This posture serves two purposes: First, it helps the loon to appear more inconspicuous, an attempt to ‘hide’ from a perceived threat. Second, it puts the loon into a diving position—all that the loon has to do is kick its feet and it will be back in the water, where it is more mobile and thus less vulnerable than it is on land. Loons in hangover position may be on the verge of flushing the nest, leaving their eggs vulnerable to overheating, chilling, and/or predation. If you see a loon in this position, please back away to prevent potential nest failure. And if you accidentally flush a loon off of the nest, leave the area immediately—if the threat leaves, most loons will get right back on the nest.

A loon in 'hangover' position is stressed. Photo courtesy of Brian Reilly.
Penguin dance. Photo courtesy of Kittie Wilson.

Penguin Dance: If approached too closely, a loon may call and/or perform a distraction display called a “penguin dance.” When penguin dancing, loons rear up in the water with their wings either spread out or clasped against their bodies. They rapidly paddle their feet in the water to maintain this position. This display takes a lot of the loon’s energy and indicates that the loon is very stressed. If you see this behavior, please leave the area immediately!

 

Relaxed Loons

The photos and descriptions below show what loons look like when they are relaxed, both on the water and on the nest. When a loon that you are watching displays these behaviors, you can continue to watch it with confidence that you are not too close.

On the nest, a loon that is relaxed will hold its head upright and survey its surroundings. Loons that are relaxed on the nest may also perform other normal behaviors, such as sleeping (nestling their heads onto their backs and closing their eyes) or turning their eggs.

When relaxed, nesting loons hold their heads up and may spend time looking around, surveying their surroundings. Photo courtesy of John Rockwood.
A relaxed loon on the water with its chicks. Photo courtesy of Ray Hennessy

Loons on the water that are not stressed will have a rounded appearance to their heads (as opposed to the squared-off brow, which indicates concern). When relaxed, loons are calm and able to carry out normal behaviors to care for themselves and their chicks. Feel free to continue watching! 

 

Loon Preservation Committee