The animals in Gaviiformes have difficulty moving on land since their legs are further back than those of other birds.
- These birds have web-like feet, sharp bills, and long necks.
- The diet of birds in this order is primarily composed of fish; however, parents feed their young smaller foods such as crustaceans and worms.
- When the loons do not cross-breed, their plumage is typically gray, brown, black, and white.
- Birds in Gaviiformes are very protective of their territory, so much so that they will even resort to attacking others of the same order.
- Although they cannot walk on land very easily, Gaviiformes birds make up for it with their agility in the water.
- A typical adult bird in the Gaviiformes order usually eats around two pounds of fish per day; this amounts to just about 1200 calories.
- Loons generally live in northern temperate areas like North America and Asia; however, migrate to warmer regions (usually coasts) such as the Mediterranean Sea and Gulf Of Mexico during the winter.
- Animals in this order have a better diving ability than other birds since their bones are denser; this is why they are known as “divers“.
- Gaviiformes birds almost always have the same mate for their entire life; they are monogamous.
- Gaviiformes birds usually live in forests and tundra with ponds or lakes. During the breeding season, loons usually reproduce in freshwater ecosystems.
- If they die a natural death, birds in this order often can live around 30 years.
