Leasure Swim
by Bruce Bley
Title
Leasure Swim
Artist
Bruce Bley
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
This photograph of a loon was taken on a fishing trip to northern Wisconsin this past summer.
The loon, the size of a large duck or small goose, resembles 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 bird may be confused with cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae), not too distant relatives of divers and like them are heavy set birds whose bellies, unlike those of ducks and geese, are submerged when swimming. Flying loons resemble a plump goose with a seagull's wings, relatively small in proportion to the bulky body. The bird holds its head pointing slightly upwards during swimming, but less so than cormorants do. In flight the head droops more than in similar aquatic birds.
Male and female loons have identical plumage. Plumage is largely patterned black-and-white in summer, with grey on the head and neck in some species. All have a white belly. This resembles many sea-ducks (Merginae), notably the smaller goldeneyes (Bucephala), but is distinct from most cormorants which rarely have white feathers, and if so usually as large rounded patches rather than delicate patterns. All species of divers have a spear-shaped bill.
Males are larger on average, but relative size is only apparent when the male and female are together.
In winter plumage is dark gray above, with some indistinct lighter mottling on the wings, and a white chin, throat and underside. The species can then be distinguished by certain features, such as size and color of head, neck, back and bill, but often reliable identification of wintering divers is difficult even for experts, particularly as the smaller immature birds look similar to winter-plumage adults, making size an unreliable means of identification.
Gaviiformes are among the few groups of birds in which the young moult into a second coat of down feathers after shedding the first one, rather than growing juvenile feathers with downy tips that wear off as is typical in many birds.
I hope you have enjoyed this photograph and will share it with others. You can see more of my work on my homepage. Your comments on my work are greatly appreciated. Thank you for visiting.
Uploaded
December 21st, 2015
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Viewed 459 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 03/24/2024 at 9:11 PM
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Comments (17)
HH Photography of Florida
A wonderful close-up of this beautiful Loon, Bruce. Love to hear their mournful calls across the lake. l/tw/g+
Bruce Bley replied:
When I visit the lake in Wisconsin the loons always welcome us. Thank you for the nice comment, Helen.
Bruce Bley
Dan, I want to thank you for the feature in the group "Premium FAA Artists". Thank you so much.
Beverly Guilliams
The loon is a Beautiful bird/duck.......my sister has them in Alaska. Fantistic Close up.............v./f./t.
Sharon Nelson-Bianco
Hi Bruce, love this beautiful crisp loon image. Such a wonderful bird with lovely graphic design elements in this image. Great work. Best regards, Sharon
Bruce Bley
Joanna, I am very grateful for the feature in the group "All About Nature". Thank you for the honor.
Bruce Bley
Jeff, I sincerely appreciate the feature in the group "Pleasing The Eye". Thank you for the honor.