Loons Hunting Fish Like Torpedoes at Crazy Close Range Underwater

You've never seen loons hunting underwater this close before. Captured at point-blank range, loons pursue giant schools of emerald shiners in Ontario's Lake Simcoe.
These Canadian common loons (Gavia immer) hurl themselves at the swarms of emerald shiners (Notropis atherinoides) to create a panic and easily pick off any stragglers. The fish scramble in desperation to regroup into their baitball formations for safety.
The birds were extremely cautious before each dive and kept their distance from the camera. Once submerged, loons are incredibly fast, like little torpedos.
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[@oner55]

Wow! I've seen Loons darting around from above but at eye level you really see how graceful and effortless they are as swimmers. Thanks for sharing!

[@kevinbiskaborn]

Thanks for watching Andrew! You're right - it's incredible to watch them underwater!

[@allstarpterosaur850]

This is the closest thing to seeing the extinct Hesperornis hunting fish. Both loons and Hesperornis had very similar bodies, with the latter being flightless and swimming in the Cretaceous oceans. Edit: Apparently, the Hesperornis was more akin to a flightless cormorant when it comes to swimming. However, Hesperornis and loons would’ve had the same movement on land, which is awkward and funny.

[@kevinbiskaborn]

Thanks for sharing that, I checked out the Hesperornis and you're right, very similar! Thanks for watching!

[@chrisandstephanieashley3510]

Cool how loons can eat under water.

[@kevinbiskaborn]

Definitely! Thanks for watching!

[@dewbow134]

Super amazing video! They are really beautiful birds, great to see a video of them hunting. Really love this one at 0:46 , gracefully moving under water in the sunlight. Spectacular 👍

[@kevinbiskaborn]

Thanks very much! And thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it!

[@myvillagebirds]

Thank you very much for sharing. It is so cleaver under water.

[@kevinbiskaborn]

Thanks for watching!

[@Born_Again_On_The_Mountain]

This is amazing! Thank you for posting this video. It is neat to see what they look like and are doing under the water.

[@kevinbiskaborn]

You're most welcome, thanks for watching!

[@birdenthusiastg5570]

Awh I'm glad to see that to make up for being so bad at walking on land, the poor things are wonderful swimmers/divers at least 😅 But I'm all seriousness, great video!

[@kevinbiskaborn]

You're right, they're definitely designed for underwater speed! Thanks for watching!

[@dewbow134]

Agree! Hard for them to walk on land but so graceful underwater

[@kevinbiskaborn]

@@dewbow134 Definitely!

[@danseagren9601]

Awesome video! Amazing how God designed them to be the ultimate under water fish catcher!

[@kevinbiskaborn]

Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@QDoan-is1hu]

Wow. Thank you for sharing your wonderful video.

[@kevinbiskaborn]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@sonorasky3982]

Wonderful! Thanks 😊

[@kevinbiskaborn]

Thanks for watching!

[@sylviakovessy]

Thank you very much !

[@kevinbiskaborn]

Thanks for watching!

[@RobertKingofMaine]

Wow! Super footage! subscribed :)

[@kevinbiskaborn]

Thanks Robert, and thanks for watching!

[@ZakWolf]

I've seen them at the Cape Cod Canal. They'd periodically dive underwater for a bit and then come back up, often with a fish in its' bill that it swallows after submerging.

[@kevinbiskaborn]

Awesome, most likely a similar scene under the water! Thanks for watching!

[@christinasophieschultz5081]

What a capture 😮❤

[@kevinbiskaborn]

Thanks Christina, and thanks for watching!

[@mariamoralez1734]

amazing!!!!

[@kevinbiskaborn]

Thanks Maria, and thanks for watching!

[@AlphaCid85]

I live in Minnesota, And I've never seen Loons submerged before. I fish often, And whenever I see one I pull out the binoculars. It's amazing how long they stay submerged

[@kevinbiskaborn]

It certainly is impressive! Thanks for watching!

[@dancingtrout6719]

legs are at the rear, they cant walk on land they hop. if far away from water they are stranded if in small ponds they get stranded they cant take of.. their bones ares solid other birds have air in their bone.. its a real water bird too the max

[@joelleker8343]

interesting how close the loon was to the camera and camera operator! On the surface the Loons I've seen tend to keep their distance from people.

[@joshmariota1046]

I wonder if the sheen look of their upper coat is similar to the school which allows the loon to swim camouflaged?

[@kevinbiskaborn]

It's a cool idea! Thanks for watching!

[@t-rexstudioproductions781]

The Modern Hesperornis

[@kevinbiskaborn]

Very similar 👍thanks for watching!

[@raihanfarrelofficial]

It's Becky from Finding Dory

[@kevinbiskaborn]

👍haha! Thanks for watching!

[@dancingtrout6719]

Lets Hear It for This AMazing Water Bird...yaaaaayyy

[@kevinbiskaborn]

Thanks for watching!

[@Dragon_puppets_Ruby]

A Loon To Me Looks Like The Extinct Hesperornis.

[@kevinbiskaborn]

You're right, it does! It would be crazy to see a 2m long loon! Thanks for watching!

[@chisaquaticvibe6524]

I've seen videos of penguins and other seabirds hunting like this before.

[@richardkev3077]

The modern plesiosaur.

[@kevinbiskaborn]

👍thanks for watching!

[@t-rexstudioproductions781]

It’s actually a Hesperornis Not a plesiosaur

[@christinasophieschultz5081]

Ho.hooo wooow ❤😮😮😮🎉❤❤

[@KiryonFEATHER9264]

That it means "spinosaurus"

[@t-rexstudioproductions781]

Actually it’s a Hesperornis

[@AnnSwanson-xu6wd]

Hmmm. O.k.

[@sannotutamime-k3w]

Brown John Thompson Michael Johnson Michelle

[@harley4957]

Looks like the school of fish is not even trying to get away

[@kevinbiskaborn]

It can look that way! The loon moves faster than the fish on the outside of the school formation. Thanks for watching!

[@nickfpv6513]

Awesome footage! What camera was used?