[davidcalderisi]

Helping a writer friend with some research. Can anyone here tell me if loons call in winter? For example, on a Christmas eve at Tofino, might it be possible to hear a loon? Most appreciative for a reply. Thanks.

[Jeremy Gatten]

Hi David,

Loons primarily call on their breeding territories, but it is not uncommon to hear them during migration windows in spring and fall, too. There is a call on xeno-canto (an online library of user-contributed sound recordings) from early January of a loon giving its dissonant wail call on a reservoir in Colorado, so it's not completely unheard to hear winter calls. It could be a Christmas miracle!

Jeremy Gatten
Saanichton, BC

[Robert]

I heard one calling today. First time for me.