Dossier
The Loon Project
Coverage of The Loon Project in the Nexus archive.
- Are loons closer relatives to penguins than to ducks?
The common loon is genetically closer to penguins than to ducks, sharing an evolutionary lineage dating back 40-50 million years with herons and pelicans. Despite differences in habitat and physical traits, loons and penguins have dense bones and similar coloring for diving, while ducks are more closely related to geese and swans.