Gavia
Sign in to saveLoons (North American English) or divers (British / Irish English) are a group of aquatic birds found in much of North America and northern Eurasia. All living species of loons are members of the genus Gavia, family Gaviidae, and order Gaviiformes.
AI overview
Gavia is the scientific genus that includes all living loon species, which are aquatic birds found across North America and northern Eurasia. These birds matter because they represent a distinct group of water birds with their own evolutionary history, characterized by their specialized adaptations for diving and swimming.
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Taxonomy · GBIF
GENUS
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassAves
- OrderGaviiformes
- FamilyGaviidae
via GBIF · CC0
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Subclass of
- water bird
- Parent taxon
- loon
- Image
- PacificLoon24.jpg
Show 2 more facts
Article
12 sectionsContents
- Description
- Behaviour and ecology
- Diet and feeding
- Reproduction
- Etymology and taxonomy
- Systematics and evolution
- Fossil record
- In popular culture
- References
- Bibliography
- Recordings
- External links
Loons (North American English) or divers (British / Irish English) are a group of aquatic birds found in much of North America and northern Eurasia. All living species of loons are members of the genus Gavia, family Gaviidae, and order Gaviiformes.
==Description== Loons, which are the size of large ducks or small geese, resemble these birds in shape when swimming. Like ducks and geese, but unlike coots (which are Rallidae) and grebes (Podicipedidae), the loon's toes are connected by webbing. The loons may be confused with the cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae), but can be distinguished from them by their distinct call. Cormorants are not-too-distant relatives of loons, and like them are heavy-set birds whose bellies, unlike those of ducks and geese, are submerged when swimming. Loons in flight resemble plump geese with seagulls' wings that are relatively small in proportion to their bulky bodies. The bird points its head slightly upwards while swimming, but less so than cormorants. In flight, the head droops more than in similar aquatic birds.