I have seen Red-throated Loons in the winter diving way out in Hamilton harbour. The simple colours of the wintering birds blend well with the steel-grey waters (Hamilton–steel–did you notice how wittily I wrote that?).
Late this May, I heard an adult Red-throated Loon in its breeding plumage was seen at the Desjardins Canal. It was an injured bird, though, that had been brought there by a human rescuer. So I went to see it, feeling the bittersweetness of seeing the bird up close but knowing it was likely going to die.
How Common Are Red-throated Loons?
The Loon I am familiar with is the black and white Common Loon that summers in Ontario’s southern lakes, making the haunting calls used in many movies. I knew that Red-throated Loons and Arctic Loons also breed in Canada but I wasn’t sure how abundant they are. So I went to the Cornell University website to look it up.
The website says there may be about a quarter of a million Red-throated Loons worldwide. They are found in Europe and parts of Asia as well as North America.There are about 5 times more Common Loons.
Do Red-throated Loons Need a Running Start?
If you’ve watched Common Loons, you’ve probably seen that they have trouble getting airborne. They start flapping and “running” across the water before they actually take off fully.
According to the Cornell Website, though, Red-throated Loons can spring into flight more like some ducks. That means they can use small ponds safely unlike larger Common Loons.
Unfortunately, the Red-throated Loon I visited had an injury and was not even diving for food, much less flying.
Hoping for Happier Encounters
As I walked through the park beside the Desjardins Canal, I saw many other birds including Hooded Mergansers, Yellow Warblers, and Tree Swallows defending their nesting boxes. It was cheering to see them. I hope the next Red-throated Loon I see is in good health, even if it means it won’t be an “up close and personal” encounter.
Related Reading
Join In
Have you seen all three types of Canadian Loons? Please share your experience with a comment.