Loons feed primarily on fish, frogs, crayfish, mussels, leeches, and aquatic insects. By the end of summer the young fledglings are capable of feeding themselves. Once airborne, loons are powerful fliers. Pilots have checked them flying at speeds up to 80 mph. It is assumed that loons return to the same lake every year.
Males claim the same territory and await the female's return.
The wail is perhaps the call most frequently heard. A loon will wail when it becomes separated from the chick or if its mate fails to return. The tremolo is an aggressive response given when disturbed by a boater or predator. The yodel is also an expression of aggression and is given by the male during a confrontation. The sounds are apparently a learned communication between the birds.