Editing Common loon (section)

=== Feeding ===
[[File:093 - COMMON LOON (12-17-11) moss landing, ca (2) (8720312789).jpg|thumb|Foraging]]
Fish account for about 80% of the diet of the common loon. It forages on fish of up to {{convert|26|cm|abbr=on}} in length, including [[minnow]]s, [[Catostomidae|suckers]], [[Dorosoma|gizzard shad]], [[rock bass]], [[alewife (fish)|alewife]], [[northern pike]], [[Whitefish (fisheries term)|whitefish]], [[sauger]], [[brown bullhead]], [[pumpkinseed]], [[burbot]], [[walleye]], [[bluegill]], [[white crappie]], [[black crappie]], [[rainbow smelt]], and [[killifish]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite book|title=Birds of Ontario: Habitat Requirements, Limiting Factors, and Status: Volume 1–Nonpasserines: Loons through Cranes |last=Sandilands|first=Al|date=2011|publisher=University of British Columbia Press|isbn=978-0-7748-5943-1|location=Vancouver |page=171}}</ref> The young typically eat small minnows, and sometimes [[insect]]s and fragments of green vegetation.<ref name= MNFI/> The freshwater diet primarily consists of [[pike (fish)|pike]], [[perch]], [[Centrarchidae|sunfish]], [[trout]], and [[bass (fish)|bass]]; the saltwater diet primarily consists of [[Sebastes|rock fish]], [[flounder]], [[Brown trout|sea trout]], [[herring]], [[Sciaenidae|Atlantic croaker]], [[haddock]], and [[Atheriniformes|Gulf silverside]]. When there is either a lack of fish or they are difficult to catch, it preys on [[crustacean]]s, [[crayfish]], [[snail]]s, [[leech]]es, [[Larvae|insect larvae]], [[Mollusca|molluscs]], [[frog]]s, [[annelid]]s, and occasionally [[aquatic plant]] matter such as [[Potamogeton|pondweed]], roots, moss, [[Salix|willow shoots]], seeds, and [[algae]].<ref name="hbw2" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":9" /> It has also been known to eat ducklings.<ref name=":9" />

The common loon uses its powerful [[Hindlimb|hind legs]] to propel its body underwater at high speed to catch its prey, which it then swallows head-first. If the fish attempts to evade the common loon, the bird chases it down with excellent underwater manoeuvrability due to its strong legs.<ref name=":2" /> Most prey are swallowed underwater, where they are caught, but some larger prey are first brought to the surface. It is a visual predator, so it is essential to hunting success that the water is clear.<ref name= MNFI/> It normally dives {{Convert|4|to|10|m|abbr = on}}, but has been recorded to dive up to {{Convert|70|m|abbr = on}}.<ref name="hbw2" /> The average diving time is 42 seconds,<ref name="Wisconsin Natural Resources" /> but the maximum duration spent underwater is about {{Convert|1|minute||abbr = on}}.<ref name="hbw2"/>