White Loon with black head

lobstadanca · 06-01-2015, 09:59 PM

We saw a pair of loons in front of our home this past weekend. One was the typical black-colored loon, but the other was pure white with a black head. Has anyone seen them too? I've never seen a white loon. Is it the male or female?

hilltopper · 06-02-2015, 06:04 AM

Sounds like you saw a common merganser.

lobstadanca · 06-02-2015, 08:02 AM

I checked images of the common merganser and I'm sure you're right. I've seen mergansers, but never a white one with the black hood. I'm attaching a picture which shows a green hood. I really thought the mate was a loon... time for me to go to the eye doctor.

tis · 06-02-2015, 12:52 PM

Don't feel bad, you are not the first person to mistake a merganser for a loon. They are quite a bit smaller too when you look closely.

fatlazyless · 06-03-2015, 12:09 PM

The ducks seem to just love cheez-its, www.cheezit.com, in the original style...probably for the real cheese and slightly salty flavor....good way to turn an individual Canada goose, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_goose) , loon, mallard, or merganser into a quasi-moto waterfront pet that will hang by your dock for maybe an hour or so, waiting for more cheez-its. Plus, cheez-its can be tossed just like a Frisbee for about 20-yards with a little practice....and making them easier for the ducks to eat ..... cheez-its will float ... and are easy to spot on the water's surface because they are bright orange-red.

06-01-2015, 09:59 PM	#1
lobstadanca Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Smith Point West Alton Posts: 70 Thanks: 77 Thanked 44 Times in 10 Posts	White Loon with black head We saw a pair of loons in front of our home this past weekend. One was the typical black-colored loon, but the other was pure white with a black head. Has anyone seen them too? I've never seen a white loon. Is it the male or female?

06-02-2015, 06:04 AM	#2
hilltopper Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Meredith Posts: 716 Thanks: 25 Thanked 105 Times in 66 Posts	Duck Sounds like you saw a common merganser.

06-02-2015, 08:02 AM	#3
lobstadanca Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Smith Point West Alton Posts: 70 Thanks: 77 Thanked 44 Times in 10 Posts	Thanks I checked images of the common merganser and I'm sure you're right. I've seen mergansers, but never a white one with the black hood. I'm attaching a picture which shows a green hood. I really thought the mate was a loon... time for me to go to the eye doctor. Attached Images Last edited by lobstadanca; 06-02-2015 at 08:09 AM. Reason: Add photo

06-03-2015, 12:09 PM	#5
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,525 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 295 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	....... cheez-it....quack-quack! The ducks seem to just love cheez-its, www.cheezit.com, in the original style...probably for the real cheese and slightly salty flavor....good way to turn an individual Canada goose, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_goose) , loon, mallard, or merganser into a quasi-moto waterfront pet that will hang by your dock for maybe an hour or so, waiting for more cheez-its. Plus, cheez-its can be tossed just like a Frisbee for about 20-yards with a little practice....and making them easier for the ducks to eat ..... cheez-its will float ... and are easy to spot on the water's surface because they are bright orange-red. __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake! Last edited by fatlazyless; 06-04-2015 at 04:51 AM.

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06-02-2015, 12:52 PM	#4
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,405 Thanks: 719 Thanked 1,379 Times in 955 Posts	Don't feel bad, you are not the first person to mistake a merganser for a loon. They are quite a bit smaller too when you look closely.