Discover the Official State Bird of Minnesota

The official state fowl of Minnesota is the widespread loon (Gavia immer). The state legislature adopted this fowl as an official state image on March 13, 1961. Minnesota hosts the biggest widespread loon inhabitants within the decrease 48 states — solely Alaska has extra! Read on to seek out out extra about the place they reside and learn how to determine them.

What Do Common Loons Look and Sound Like?

Common loon mother and father sport matching black-and-white plumage throughout the breeding season, whereas chicks are born a downy chocolate brown.

Common loons are giant diving waterbirds. Length ranges from 26.0-35.8 in (66-91 cm), with a wingspan measuring 40.9-51.6 in (104-131 cm). Weight averages 88.2-215.2 oz (2500-6100 g). Males are typically bigger and heavier, however in any other case, each sexes look equivalent.

Adult widespread loons have distinct breeding and non-breeding plumages. Breeding grownup plumage features a black head and neck with an iridescent sheen, black invoice, black-and-white striped collars, and black-and-white checkerboard again, together with blood-red eyes. Nonbreeding grownup plumage fades to a brownish coloration with a white throat. The invoice additionally fades to grey and the eyes are duller crimson.

Common loons are simply as well-known for his or her eerie sounds as they’re for his or her tuxedo feathers. Their 4 essential calls are referred to as tremolos, yodels, wails, and hoots. The tremolo is an alarm name; the yodel is the male’s territorial name; the wail is a location communication name; and the hoot is a household name.

What Do Common Loon Nests and Eggs Look Like?

Male and feminine widespread loons work collectively to build their nest in May. They assemble a mound nest utilizing useless vegetation resembling marsh grasses and sedges, building alongside lake banks in addition to on synthetic platforms offered by people. For the crowning glory, one guardian climbs on prime of the mound to mould the nest’s inside into the form of its physique. Once the nest is accomplished, the feminine then lays 1 or 2 eggs. These eggs are brown with darkish splotches and are incubated for 26-29 days. If nesting is profitable, loon pairs will typically rebuild on the identical web site the next 12 months.

What Do Common Loons Eat?

Common loons are primarily piscivores and use their dagger-like payments to catch a wide range of small fish. They will, nonetheless, additionally feed on different aquatic creatures together with crustaceans, mollusks, bugs, and amphibians. They additionally often eat aquatic vegetation.

Where Do Common Loons Live?

Common loons are a migratory fowl species. They breed on giant wooded lakes throughout Canada, Alaska, and components of the northern United States, in addition to Greenland and Iceland. During migration season, they are often seen shifting throughout many of the decrease 48 states. They make their winter houses alongside each the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America, together with the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of California, in addition to alongside the Atlantic coast of Western Europe, together with the Norwegian Sea, North Sea, Celtic Sea, and south to the Bay of Biscay and the western Mediterranean. Iceland hosts a small inhabitants of widespread loons year-round.

Where and When Can You See Common Loons in Minnesota?

Northeastern and central Minnesota falls inside the widespread loon’s breeding vary, and the state hosts about 12,000 loons yearly. Common loons usually begin arriving in Minnesota from the overwintering grounds in late March to early April. The state’s quite a few giant, clear lakes present these birds with the right summer time houses for nesting and elevating their young. Adult loons will begin migrating to their winter houses in September, with the young loons following a couple of month later.

Conclusion

The official state fowl of Minnesota is the widespread loon. This giant diving waterbird was formally declared a state image in 1961 and in addition seems on the state’s official commemorative state quarter from 2005. Minnesota hosts the biggest inhabitants of those migratory waterbirds within the decrease 48 states, with about 12,000 arriving each spring to make the state their home for the summer time breeding season. With their dashing tuxedo plumage and delightful, haunting calls, these breeding-season loons are an unmistakable sight and sound throughout Minnesota’s well-known system of lakes.