The Common Loon

Except for a few small areas along our southern border, two species of loons – the common loon (Gavia immer) and the red-throated loon (Gavia stellata) together inhabit the entire land mass of Canada. The nesting territories of these species stretch from the east coast of Newfoundland to the Queen Charlotte Islands, and from the shores of Lake Ontario to the north coast of Ellesmere Island.

If Canadians are to have a national bird – and I believe we should – there are clear and compelling reasons why the common loon is the logical choice. There is the loonie, flying high at the moment, and the fact that loons, though present throughout the country, are never overabundant like Canada geese. The black bill, the black and white pattern on its back and wings, a white necklace, and its red eyes make it an easy bird to identify, and one that lends itself to graphic representation. Loons also play an important role in the stories and myths of First Nations and Inuit. And finally, loons require water to become airborne, providing a useful reminder to Canadians of the importance of this precious natural resource.

But there is something less definable about the loon that makes it such a strong candidate for Canada’s national bird. The loon’s melancholy call on a still, summer evening evokes a sense of romance and mystery. Though most of us live clustered along our southern border, we have an innate bond with Canada’s vast northern wilderness – the boreal forest that covers 50 per cent of the land mass of our country. The loon is our connection to that wilderness.

And if any questions remain about the choice of the loon as our national bird, my daughter Indira reminds me that the iconic song of her generation – “Wheat Kings” by the Tragically Hip – begins with the call of a loon.