This is a great time to keep an eye out for wintering Common Loons. During this time of year the
nonbreeding Common Loon can be seen hanging out in local harbors and other saltwater waterways around the Cape including the Cape Cod Canal and further offshore. The Canal is right in the middle of their spring and fall migration route which usually keeps them close to the mainland. The wintering Common Loon typically measures 2.5 to 3 feet in overall length and a wingspan from 4 to 5 feet. The wintering Loon shows a long body that typically sits very low in the water.
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All About Birds” web
page for the Common Loon, the non-breeding adult basic plumage from October to March features
upper parts of gray to gray-brown with the under parts and throat white. You will notice an irregular border of dark and light along the neck. Also you may observe a wedge of white extending from the throat to the back of the neck. Look for white crescents around the dark reddish-brown eyes. The long pointed bill is silvery-gray with a black upper edge.
The plumages of loons change dramatically from the wintering
Common Loon (both images above) to the summer plumage 
(below). The Mass. Division of Fisheries & Wildlife’s Natural Heritage Endangered Species Program maintains a list of special concern species. That list is available on the web and includes a Common Loon fact sheet. According to Mass Wildlife, in summer, the Loon’s head and neck are black, with a broad, white collar of black and white lines on the sides of its mid-neck; its back is cross-banded black with white spots. The Loon’s red eyes are from a pigment in its retina that filters light and allows the bird to see underwater. The Common Loon is listed as a species of Special Concern in Massachusetts. Click here to here the eerie call of the Loon!
Craig Gibson
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