Habitat
Breeds near clear, oligotrophic lakes with fish, islands, floating bogs, and indented bays surrounded by forest and rocky shorelines (Barr 1973, 1996). Found in boreal forests and riparian areas in Alaska (Groves et al. 1996). Stages on rivers, lakes, and reservoirs with ample food (McIntyre and Barr 1983).
References
Barr, J. F. 1973. Feeding biology of the Common Loon (Gavia immer) in oligotrophic lakes of the Precambrian Shield. Ph. D. dissertation, University of Guelph, Ontario.
Barr, J. F. 1996. Aspects of Common Loon (Gavia immer) feeding biology on its breeding ground. Hydrobiologia 321: 119-144.
Groves, D.J., B. Conant, R.J. King, J.I. Hodges, and J.G. King. 1996. Status and trends of loon populations summering in Alaska, 1971-1993. The Condor 98:189-195.
McIntyre, J. W. and J. F. Barr. 1983. Pre-migratory behavior of Common Loons on the autumn staging grounds. Wilson Bulletin 95:121-125.