The loon is a charming water bird found throughout the Ontario, Canada northland. It has a very distinctive and haunting cry, often heard lilting across quiet lakes in the early dawn. Nothing else on Earth sounds like it. It's very beautiful looking too (exquisite patterns of black and white feathers, graceful form, long neck), and it's a marvelous swimmer. You more often see them swimming and diving than flying.

It may also be found on the Canadian one-dollar coin, which has been popularly dubbed "the Loonie".

I know it sounds odd, but it's true. This is Canada, eh?

"Totally decent, man...Canada ROCKS!!!" (to quote BDiBR)

I don't know where the expression "crazy as a loon" came from, but it must have been inspired by the bird's cry, I would think, which would sound crazy coming from a human being. The only thing in nature which resembles it much is a hyena's laugh. It's spooky.

- LH