Wildlife Journal Junior!
New Hampshire PBS

Home       |       Wild Files       |       N.H. Animals       |       Animals A-Z       |       Watch Online

Gaviidae - Loons

 

Classification

 Phylum: Chordata
 Class: Aves
 Order: Gaviiformes
 Family: Gaviidae

LoonMost species of loon need large, clear lakes. They are not good at taking off or landing and need lots of space! They also need clear lakes so they can spot their prey. There are five species of loons, and they are found in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Loons are the size of a duck. They have long necks, round heads, and pointed bills. Males and females look alike, but males are usually a little larger.

Loons are known for their haunting, wailing call. All five species are found in North America. The five species are the common loon, the yellow-billed loon, the red-throated loon, the pacific loon and the arctic loon.

galleryGaviidae Photo Gallery

World Status Key
Least ConcernLeast Concern Near ThreatenedNear Threatened VulnerableVulnerable EndangeredEndangered Critically EndangeredCritically Endangered extinct in the wildExtinct in Wild extinctExtinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.

US Status Key
Threatened in USThreatened in US Threatened in New HampshireThreatened in NH Endangered in USEndangered in US Endangered in NHEndangered in NH breeds in nhBreeds in NH IntroducedIntroduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

  New Hampshire Species

 

 North/Central American Species

Common Loon - Gavia immer Least Concern Threatened in NH breeds in nh
Red-throated Loon - Gavia stellata Least Concern

 

Yellow-billed Loon - Gavia adamsii Near Threatened
Arctic Loon - Gavia arctica Least Concern
Pacific Loon - Gavia pacifica Least Concern

Other Species Around the World

Africa Africa Asia Asia Australia Australia/Oceania Europe Europe North America North/Central America South America South America New Hampshire Species NH Species

Yellow-billed Loon - Gavia adamsii Near Threatened Asia Europe North America
Arctic Loon - Gavia arctica Least Concern Asia Europe North America
Common Loon - Gavia immer Least Concern Europe North America New Hampshire Species
  Pacific Loon - Gavia pacifica Least Concern Asia North America
Red-throated Loon - Gavia stellata Least Concern Asia Europe North America New Hampshire Species