| Common Loon | |
|---|---|
 An male Common Loon in Minocqua Wisconsin 22 July 2011 16:54PM | |
| Information | |
| Range | Canada, northern US, Alaska, Greenland and Iceland |
| Scientific Classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Gaviiformes |
| Family | Gaviidae |
| Genus | Gavia |
| Species | Gavia immer |
| Conservation Status | |
 Least Concern | |
The common loon or the great northern diver (Gavia immer) is a large member of the loon (diver) family of birds. The word "loon" comes from a borrowing from a North Germanic language (possibly Icelandic), which is from Old Norse lómr meaning "loon". It is ultimately imitative of the bird's cry when it is in danger. The sexes are alike, though males are significently heavier than females. Loons breed on lakes and riverways (ea) in Canada, the northern United States, Alaska, southern parts of Greenland and Iceland. Small numbers breed in Svalbard and Siberia. Loons winter as far south as Mexico, both coast of the US and the Atlantic coast of Europe.