1. Minnisota’s state bird
The Common Loon
Minnisota’s state bird

2. Loons are our state bird
They come to MN in the spring and leave in the fall. They spend their winters in the Gulf of Mexico. In the summer they live on lakes in northern Minnesota. Loons are beautiful wather birds. They are pictured on some of our automobile license plates.

3. All about loons
They eat small fish like perch, pike, sunfish, and bass.
They can swim under water to catch fish. They can swim very fast and stay under water for many minutes. They can dive as far as 200 feet.
They build a nest near the edge of the water where they lay 1-3 eggs. When the chicks hatch they swim with the parents. Sometimes the chicks ride on their parents’ backs.
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4. Loons have a unique sound.
The eerie yodel of the Common Loon is a symbol of the wild North. The territorial call of the male loon can be heard from lakes across Canada to the northern United States.
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5. How to identify a Common Loon
It is a large water bird and is often seen on lakes in Northern Minnesota.
Its coloring is black and white, and it has red eyes.
It has a long, pointed bill.
It sits very low in the water.
It has a long body that slopes to the rear.
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6. This is a loon in summer breeding plumage (feathers)
This is a loon in summer breeding plumage (feathers). Most of the loons you can see in mn look like this.
Creative Commons licensed photo from:

7. This is a loon in winter plumage (feathers)
This is a loon in winter plumage (feathers). Loosn look like this when they first come to mn in the spring.
Creative Commons licensed photo from:

8. Thank you for reading abou tloons!
The End
Thank you for reading abou tloons!