Loons' webbed feet, located near the base of their tail feathers instead of the middle of their bodies, propel them swiftly under and through water. That makes loons top heavy and unable to walk more than a few awkward steps at a time. As a result, land can be a death trap for them, especially while they are migrating. From the air, wet highways, parking lots, airport runways, and swimming pools can easily be mistaken for open water. After landing, a loon has trouble getting aloft because it must flap its wings while running across the water's surface.
Most flying birds have hollow bones.
Loons have solid bones that, while perfect for diving, increase their weight, making a quick takeoff impossible. But once in the air, loons can fly at high altitudes for long distances. When autumn arrives, the birds migrate south to the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to spend a quiet winter. It spends its days along rocky shores where breaking ocean waves ensure a constant supply of saltwater fish such as cod, sea trout, herring, sculpin, and mackerel. At night, the now dingy gray and brown bird retreats to the open water, away from predators.