The iconic bird of Canada that is on it’s dollar sign. Hence it is also called a “loonie”. In summer, it can be found on lakes and large bodies of water all across the Canadian mainland. Its breeding plumage is spectacular. ITs haunting mating calls carry an unearthly ring and can be heard for miles, long before you can see the bird through the morning mist over the water.

In colder months it moves to the coastal waters of both the east and west coast of North America and can be found as north as the Aleutian islands off Alaska, and also the inland waters of the American southeast, such as Florida and its adjacent states.

It is present year round in some small pockets, in British Columbia, Canada. I am fortunate to be living in one such pocket, at the sourthern tip of British Columbia, just above the border with USA.