Loons:
- Medium to large diving birds
- Excellent swimmers and divers, spend most of their time in water
- Sharp, pointed bill for catching fish
- Lobed or partially webbed feet for efficient swimming
- Often seen alone or in small groups during breeding season
- Migrate long distances during winter
- Vocal birds with distinctive yodeling calls
Geese:
- Large waterfowl with long necks and legs
- Herbivorous, feeding on grasses, plants, and seeds
- Strong, broad wings for powerful flight
- Webbed feet for swimming and walking on land
- Gregarious birds, often forming large flocks
- Migrate long distances during winter, flying in V-shaped formations
- Honking calls serve as communication
Swans:
- Large, graceful waterfowl with long, elegant necks
- Similar to geese but generally larger
- Herbivorous, feeding on aquatic plants and vegetation
- Webbed feet for swimming and maneuvering in water
- Graceful swimmers, known for their beauty and majesty
- Territorial and monogamous, often forming long-term pair bonds
- Trumpeting calls serve as vocalizations
Ducks:
- Smaller waterfowl with a variety of species
- Omnivorous diet, feeding on plants, seeds, insects, and small aquatic creatures
- Varied bill shapes depending on the species, adapted for different feeding strategies
- Webbed feet for swimming and moving on water
- Diverse group with varied behaviors, including dabbling, diving, and perching species
- Some species are migratory, while others are resident
In summary, loons are medium to large diving birds, geese and swans are large waterfowl, and ducks are a diverse group of smaller waterfowl. They differ in their physical characteristics, feeding habits, behaviors, and vocalizations.