What does the loon look like?

A loon looks like a large, heavy duck, bigger than a duck but not so large as a goose. Its head appears a bit oversized and, along with its neck, is black with a greenish sheen.

You can tell a loon from other similar birds by its diving habits - it will stay underwater for a long time, reappearing several meters away. Also, because its legs are so far back on its body, it cannot walk on land.

Some issues of the Canadian one dollar coin (often called a looney) feature a silhouetted image of the loon on the reverse side (other issues feature the Canada Goose).