Looking for loons

Common loons are most recognizable in the black-tie garb they sport in the summer months, when they breed on lakes in the far northeast U.S. and Canada: plumage of glossy black flecked with geometric white; eyes a deep ruby red.

In winter, when we shore residents are lucky enough to call common loons our neighbors, they look rather drab by comparison. But you’re missing out if you overlook these diving birds.

What it looks like: A large waterbird, the common loon’s 32-inch body sits low in the water, like a loaded-down barge, and its sloping back makes it stand out among the higher-floating ducks and geese that share its hangouts.

In winter, loons' feathers are a dull brown-gray. A heavy, pointed beak and white throat are distinguishing characteristics. In March, you may catch them in their dramatic black-and-white breeding plumage before they head north. Males and females look alike.

Where to find it: Look for loons on bays and the open ocean all along the Jersey shore, especially in deeper tidal inlets. They’re everywhere, so searching for them is a great introduction to seabird-seeking.

Good bets for spotting them include the southern ocean beaches of Sandy Hook, Manasquan Inlet, Island Beach State Park and Barnegat Light.

Why bother: Loons are rewarding subjects for birdwatchers because they're so active. They feed constantly, diving deep for fish and crustaceans. Train your binoculars on one and watch it arc into a graceful dive and disappear for up to a minute, popping up a good distance away, spiky crab legs protruding from its bill. 

It’s a shame it’s not as easy to see them below the surface; their enormous webbed feet, positioned at the back of their body, make them extraordinary underwater “fliers.” They’ve been known to dive as deep as 600 feet in the Great Lakes.

Flight fact: Because of their heft, loons need to flap and run over about a quarter mile of open water before they can take off. This means they have to be careful when returning to northern inland waters; if they arrive too early, they can become trapped in a re-frozen lake.