The mysterious battle-cry of the loon

I just read this article on the discovery of a certain code within the territorial calls of the male loon. Behaviorists have observed that when a loon responds to an intruding male’s call, he does so in a distinctive yodel. The pitch of this yodel, contains information about that resident loon’s weight, in answer to the intruder’s challenge. In other words, it says “I’m twice the loon you’ll ever be!” The remaining mystery of this code, is why loons who judge themselves smaller than the intruder, do not remain silent, but instead blurt out their size regardless.

I was even more fascinated to learn about the ensuing battles themselves:

While resident and intruding females settle their disputes with little bloodshed, male loons fight to the death over territories about 30 percent of the time — at times diving underwater and spearing their opponents through the heart with their long beaks, according to the study.

Wow, loons in a vicious cockfight! It’s a sobering reminder that Nature is a violent arena of survival, bloodshed and beautifully melodious birdcalls. Kids, listen up: The next time you are canoeing and you hear a loon call, DO NOT reach for your camera!! You had better duck and cover, my friends, unless you want to get your eyeball lanced by the beak of this lovely, dappled waterfowl.