How to Identify Loons Birds of a Feather Loon Look-Alikes The Times They Are a Changing Birds of a Feather Loon in breeding plumage photo: Woody Hagge Loons are unique and beautiful birds, yet sometimes they are tricky to identify. They hold their bodies lower in the water than most ducks, but one group of ducks-mergansers-- swim low and are even shaped like loons. Cormorants also have a similar profile in the water, especially compared with Red-throated Loons, which hold their bills upward in a similar fashion. Loon Look-Alikes All photos courtesy of the Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter Common Merganser photo: Greg Kearns Double-crested Cormorant photo: Jeff Spendelow Pacific Loon photo: H.R.Spendelow Jr. The Times They Are a Changing Loon breeding plumage is spectacular. But immatures and birds in fall/winter plumage look like a completely different species. And to top it off, there are actually five species of loons, four in North America. Students along the Pacific coast may be able to see three or even four different kinds of wintering or migrant loons at the same time! Copyright 2003 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form