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Loon.
Black-throated Loon.
7. Loon. Gavia immer.
Range.--North America north of the Mexican
boundary, breeding from the northern
parts of the United States northward.
Unlike the Grebes, Loons do not build in
colonies, generally not more than one, or
at the most two pairs nesting on the same
lake or pond; neither do they seek the
marshy sloughs in which Grebes dwell, preferring
the more open, clear bodies of
water. The common Loon may be known
in summer by the entirely black head and
neck with the complete ribbon of black and
white stripes encircling the lower neck and
the narrower one which crosses the throat.
The back is spotted with white. In some
sections Loons build no nest, simply scooping
a hollow out in the sand, while in other
places they construct quite a large nest of
sticks, moss and grasses. It is usually placed
but a few feet from the waters edge, so
that at the least suspicion the bird can slide
off its eggs into the water, where it can cope
with any enemy. The nests are nearly always
concealed under the overhanging
bushes that line the shore; the one shown
in the full page illustration, however, was
located upon the top of an old muskrat
house. The two eggs which they lay are a
very dark greenish brown in color, with
black spots. Size 3.50 × 2.25. Data.--Lake
Sunapee, N. H., June 28, 1895. Nest placed
under the bushes at the waters edge. Made
of rushes, weeds and grasses; a large structure
nearly three feet in diameter. Collector,
H. A. Collins.
8. Yellow-billed Loon. Gavia adamsi.
Range.--Northwestern North America, along the Arctic and northern Alaskan
coasts.
The Yellow-billed Loon with the exception of its whitish or yellowish bill
in place of the black, is practically otherwise indistinguishable from the
common Loon. It averages somewhat larger in size. This is one of the most
northerly breeding birds and it is only within a very few years that anything
has been learned about the breeding habits. Their nesting habits and eggs
are precisely like the preceding except that the latter average a little larger.
Size 3.60 × 2.25.
9. Black-throated Loon. Gavia arctica..
Range.--From northern United States northward, breeding along the Arctic
Coast.
This species can be easily separated from the Loon by the gray crown and
white streaks down the back of the neck. Its size, too, is about five inches
shorter. The nesting habits are the same as the Loons and the eggs have
rather more of an olive tint besides having the majority of spots at the
larger end. Size 3.10 × 2.00.
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