Birds: Common Loon

These low swimming birds with long, dagger-like beaks are found in many of the lakes along the Appalachian Trail in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The picture here shows their summer plumage, in winter they have dark backs and dull, whitish undersides. The call of the loon is a wild falsetto or even a sound best described as maniacal laughter.

Listen to a loon (.wav file)