For many northeastern lakeshore residents, Common Loons’ calls hold a special place in the summer soundscape. Their haunting cries, heard most frequently from mid-May through June, are perhaps one of the most fascinating things about loons. They use four distinct calls to communicate with their families and other loons.
The Mournful “Wail,” an “ooohh ahhhh” is often the sound of loons identifying or calling to each other. It can also signal initial signs of a mild disturbance.
The Laughing “Tremolo,” a trill or series of trills can be a sign of distress, alarm, or, occasionally, excitement.
The Crazy and Wild “Yodel,” is the male territorial call, usually directed at unwelcome loons. Every male has a distinct yodel and uses it to transmit a lot of information, from how big the male is to his level of motivation to defend.
Hoots and Coos: On a quiet evening you can hear the loon family or group of loons in a “social gathering” communicating with each other.
Keep ears perked for loons on bodies of water near you this summer, and be sure to report your sightings to ebird.org/content/vt/
