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Great northern loon
The great northern loon (''Gavia immer''), is a large member of the loon, or diver, family of birds. The species is known as the common loon in North America and the great northern diver in Eurasia; its current name is a compromise proposed by the International Ornithological Committee.〔Gill, F., Wright, M. & Donsker, D. (2009). ''(IOC World Bird Names )'' (version 2.2). Accessed 24 November 2009〕
==Taxonomy==
The great northern loon is one of the five loon species that make up the genus ''Gavia'', the only genus of the family Gavidae and order Gaviiformes. Its closest relative is the other large black-headed species, the yellow-billed loon or white-billed diver, ''Gavia adamsii''.
The genus name ''Gavia'' was the Latin term for the smew (''Mergellus albellus''). This small sea-duck is quite unrelated to loons and just happens to be another black-and-white seabird which swims and dives for fish. It is not likely that the Ancient Romans had much knowledge of loons, as these are limited to more northern latitudes and since the end of the last glacial period seem to have occurred only as rare winter migrants in the Mediterranean region. The specific name ''immer'' is derived from North Germanic names for the bird such as modern Icelandic "Himbrimi". The term is related to Swedish ''immer'' and ''emmer'', the grey or blackened ashes of a fire, referring to its dark plumage; or to Latin ''immergo'', to immerse, and ''immersus'', submerged.〔Paul Johnsgard (1987) (Diving Birds of North America ). University of Nebraska Press. (Appendix 1)〕
The European name "diver" comes from the bird's habit of catching fish by swimming calmly along the surface and then abruptly plunging into the water. The North American name "loon" is a reference to the bird's clumsiness on land, and is derived from Scandinavian words for lame, such as Icelandic "lúinn" and Swedish "lam". Having large webbed feet, the loons are efficient predators, powerful swimmers, and adroit divers.
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