Each spring, as ice retreats from Maine’s lakes and ponds, the haunting calls of loons return to the still waters. Four of the world’s five loon species have been documented in Maine, ranging from the familiar common loon on inland lakes to the red-throated and Pacific loons along the coast, and the rare yellow-billed loon that appears only on exceptional occasions. This guide highlights when and where to see them, from quiet northern lakes to the bays and headlands of the Gulf of Maine.
Common Loon
Gavia immer
- Identification: Large, heavy-bodied loon with a black head, white-checkered back, and dagger-like bill in summer; gray above and white below in winter.
- Where found: Breeds on clear freshwater lakes and ponds across Maine except along the outer coast and in the far southwest; winters mainly in nearshore marine waters of the Gulf of Maine.
- How to spot: Look for its striking black-and-white summer plumage and listen for haunting wails and tremolos across northern lakes. In flight, shows a long neck and trailing feet.
- Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); in Maine, populations are stable and slowly increasing, supported by long-term monitoring and protection programs.
The common loon is Maine’s signature waterbird, its echoing calls among misty lakes have become part of the state’s wild identity. It’s the only loon species that breeds in Maine, nesting on calm, clear lakes large enough to support fish populations and with secluded shorelines or small islands for nesting. Adults are large and powerful, with heavy bodies built for diving and legs placed far back for swimming rather than walking. They are among the heaviest loons anywhere, with Maine males averaging even larger than yellow-billed loons.
In summer, adults show the classic black head and neck striped with white and a checkered back, offset by red eyes and a pointed black bill. In fall and winter, both adults and immatures molt to gray above and white below, resembling smaller loon species but retaining a thicker neck and heavier head. On water they sit low, diving smoothly with a forward tilt, and may remain submerged for over a minute before resurfacing with fish. Calls vary from the long wail to the yodeling territorial cry, most often heard at dawn, dusk, and during calm summer nights.
Loons arrive on Maine’s lakes as soon as the ice melts, often the very day of ice-out, and stay until September or October, when families and failed breeders begin moving toward the coast. They winter within a few miles of shore along the Gulf of Maine, especially in protected bays and coves, before returning inland in spring. Breeding occurs on lakes throughout the state except on the immediate coast and far southwestern corner. Nests are built close to the waterline, where rising water or wakes can flood them, and chicks soon take to the water but depend on parents for food for several weeks.
The best places to see common loons in summer include Rangeley, Moosehead, and Richardson Lakes, as well as the ponds of Acadia National Park. In winter, look for them off southern and midcoast Maine, particularly near Biddeford Pool, Casco Bay, and Mount Desert Island.
Maine supports the largest loon population in the Northeast, around 5,000 adults or 2,000 territorial pairs. After near-record lows in the 1970s, numbers have recovered through the efforts of the Maine Loon Project, annual citizen-science counts, and regulations limiting lead tackle. Major threats remain: lead poisoning, shoreline development, motorboat disturbance, bald eagle predation, and changing lake conditions from climate warming. Continued monitoring, habitat protection, and outreach programs like Fish Lead Free and Loon Smart help ensure that the haunting call of the common loon will remain one of Maine’s defining wilderness sounds.
Red-Throated Loon
Gavia stellata
- Identification: Small, slender loon, with an upturned bill, gray head, and rust-red throat patch in breeding plumage; in winter, blackish above and white below with a clean white face and neck.
- Where found: Seen mainly along Maine’s coast during migration and winter, especially in bays, coves, and nearshore waters; only rare summer records from inland lakes or sheltered marine areas.
- How to spot: Note its slim build, slightly upturned bill, and graceful, buoyant flight low over the waves; winter birds often feed close to shore or in small groups among diving ducks and grebes.
- Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); populations stable, though vulnerable to oil spills, bycatch, and offshore development along Atlantic migration routes.
The red-throated loon is a graceful visitor to Maine’s coastal waters, smaller and lighter than the familiar common loon. It winters widely along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and passes through the Gulf of Maine each spring and fall, with scattered individuals remaining through the colder months. A few are occasionally seen in breeding plumage on sheltered inland lakes in early summer, but the species does not nest in the state.
In appearance, this loon is slim-necked with a narrow, slightly upturned bill and a light, agile body. Adults in breeding dress show a gray head and neck with a brick-red throat patch that may still be visible in early spring migrants; winter birds are dark gray above and white below with crisp contrast on the face and neck. They dive quickly and resurface farther away, catching small fish in the upper water column. Compared with other loons, they sit higher in the water and can take flight in a short run, often commuting between feeding sites.
Most red-throated loons that appear in Maine belong to the Atlantic population that winters from Newfoundland south to the mid-Atlantic states. Tracking studies by the University of Maine show that the Gulf of Maine serves as an important spring stopover between the mid-Atlantic wintering grounds and Arctic breeding lakes. Individuals migrate north through the region from March to May, pausing in areas like Casco Bay, Frenchman Bay, and the outer islands before continuing to the Canadian Arctic. Southbound movement peaks from late September through November, when birds disperse again along the coast.
While never abundant, the species is a regular and sometimes locally common winter resident in sheltered coastal waters of southern and midcoast Maine. Offshore wind-energy areas, oil spills, and entanglement in fishing nets pose potential risks, as do changing ocean temperatures that shift prey fish northward. Ongoing tracking research led by the University of Maine and partners helps identify migration corridors and coastal “hotspots” vital to this species’ conservation across the Atlantic Flyway.
Pacific Loon
Gavia pacifica
- Identification: Medium-sized loon with a silvery-gray head, black throat bordered by white-striped lines, and boldly spotted black-and-white back in breeding plumage; gray-brown above and white below in winter.
- Where found: Rare but increasingly regular in Maine’s coastal waters during late fall, winter, and early spring, especially along the southern and midcoast; most records from November to April.
- How to spot: Look for a smaller, slimmer loon with a rounded head, short level bill, and distinct white “chinstrap” often visible on winter birds. Usually solitary or in small mixed flocks with common loons.
- Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); global populations stable though vulnerable to oil spills, net entanglement, and coastal habitat changes.
The Pacific loon, though primarily a bird of western and Arctic North America, now appears regularly along Maine’s coast in winter. Once considered a true vagrant, it is now seen nearly every year in small numbers, likely representing birds from breeding populations in northern Quebec that migrate down the Atlantic rather than Pacific Coast. Most sightings occur offshore or in protected bays, where the species can be distinguished from the larger common loon by its smaller size, more delicate structure, and short, level bill.
In winter plumage, it shows smooth gray-brown upperparts, white underparts, and a sharply defined white face and throat, sometimes crossed by a fine dark line beneath the chin. The head appears rounder and the bill slimmer than that of other loon species, often giving a gentle, even expression. In spring, a few individuals may retain traces of their breeding dress – gray head, black throat, and white neck stripes, but full-plumaged birds are rare this far east.
Pacific loons recorded in Maine are usually observed from headlands or coastal lookouts such as Biddeford Pool, Cape Elizabeth, and Schoodic Point, and occasionally in sheltered harbors from Casco Bay to Mount Desert Island. Most arrive in late autumn and remain through winter in calm, nearshore waters before departing northward in April. During migration, some may linger briefly along the Gulf of Maine while moving between the mid-Atlantic region and Arctic Canada.
Although still scarce in the state, the species’ increasing regularity suggests a slow eastward expansion of its nonbreeding range. Like other loons, it faces risks from oil pollution, bycatch, and changing marine ecosystems, but overall populations remain healthy. The quiet presence of a Pacific loon among wintering common loons along Maine’s rugged coast now offers a small but welcome glimpse of the Arctic far beyond the horizon.
Yellow-Billed Loon
Gavia adamsii
- Identification: Large loon with a thick neck, blocky head, and heavy yellow or ivory bill; in summer boldly checkered black-and-white with red eyes, in winter pale gray-brown above and white below.
- Where found: Accidental visitor to Maine’s coast, with only a few confirmed records, including one photographed off Cape Elizabeth and another near Cumberland in fall. Normally breeds in Arctic Alaska and Canada and winters along the northern Pacific Coast.
- How to spot: Look for its massive size, pale yellow bill held slightly upward, and thick-necked silhouette; best distinguished from the Common Loon by its heavier build and all-pale bill.
- Conservation status: Near Threatened (IUCN); populations small and declining due to disturbance and bycatch on Arctic breeding and northern Pacific wintering grounds.
The yellow-billed loon is the largest and rarest loon, an imposing diver of the High Arctic that only rarely strays to the Atlantic. It breeds on tundra lakes from northern Alaska to Arctic Canada and winters mainly in coastal Pacific waters, making any appearance in Maine an extraordinary event. In 2010, one was photographed from a boat off Cape Elizabeth – an exceptional record for the state, and another individual was later documented near Cumberland, both likely far-off-course wanderers from Arctic Canada.
Even from a distance, this species stands out by its size and bill color. The massive, pale bill, often ivory-yellow and slightly upturned, is its key feature, contrasting sharply with the dark crown and face. In breeding plumage, it shows a glossy black head, checkered black-and-white back, and a necklace of white streaks across the lower neck. In winter, it turns subdued gray-brown above and white below but remains noticeably bulkier than any other loon. Its posture is typically alert, with the bill angled slightly upward and the head appearing blocky.
Because its normal range lies thousands of kilometers northwest of Maine, each state sighting is likely a displaced bird caught in unusual weather or navigation patterns. Observations have come from offshore waters in late autumn, suggesting the species may occasionally wander into the Gulf of Maine during migration or storm events. With only a handful of records across the entire Atlantic coast, the yellow-billed loon remains one of the rarest visitors ever documented in Maine – an Arctic traveler briefly crossing paths with the state’s cold northern seas.
Where to See Loons in Maine
From mountain lakes to coastal bays, Maine offers some of the best loon-watching opportunities in the northeastern United States. The common loon, the only species that breeds in the state, can be found on clear, quiet lakes from the western foothills to the northern forests. Productive places to look include Rangeley, Moosehead, Richardson, and Umbagog Lakes, as well as Acadia National Park, where loons frequent Jordan Pond and Eagle Lake through summer. Early mornings and calm evenings are ideal times to hear their calls echo across the water.
Along the Maine coast, look for loons during migration and winter. Casco Bay, Penobscot Bay, Frenchman Bay, and sheltered coves around Mount Desert Island often host wintering common and red-throated loons, while sharp-eyed observers may occasionally pick out a Pacific loon among them. Rare yellow-billed loons are exceptional finds but have been recorded off Cape Elizabeth and nearby waters. Coastal headlands such as Biddeford Pool, Schoodic Point, and Pemaquid Point are reliable viewing sites from late fall through early spring.
Wherever you search, loons are most easily observed from shore or quiet boats rather than by approaching directly. Keep a respectful distance from nesting birds, follow no-wake rules near shorelines, and use binoculars or spotting scopes for close views. With patience and care, visitors can witness one of Maine’s most memorable wildlife experiences – the haunting beauty of loons gliding across mirror-still water or calling through evening mist.
