How to Identify Loon Bird Calls

Loons are large waterbirds native to the northern United States and Canada. Although the birds may be a bit difficult to identify by sight, they have distinctive calls that are different than the calls of any other birds. Loons make four different types of calls -- which you can hear mainly in warm-weather months -- and each has a specific meaning.

Instructions

    • 1

      Listen to loon calls on the Internet. Familiarize yourself with the bird's different calls before heading out into the wilderness to try to locate loons.

    • 2

      Listen for loon hoots. These short sounds indicate that the loons are in a group and are socializing.

    • 3

      Listen for loon wails. These long, mournful calls indicate that the birds are trying to locate one another and bridge the distance between them.

    • 4

      Listen for tremolo calls, which sound like high-pitched laughter. Tremolo calls are alerts that the birds emit when they feel threatened -- such as when people get close to loon chicks or a loon nest. These are the calls you are most likely to hear.

    • 5

      Listen for loon yodels. Only male loons make these calls, and they do so when mating.