p.1 #1 · Common loon plumage - the molting process.
The following are observations I've made during my loon work.
After nesting on ponds or lakes, Common Loons in Maine fly directly east to overwinter along the inshore Atlantic. I captured this image on April 4, 2026 on an Atlantic esturary. A 600mm was used, but this 100% crop was necessary, as the bird was a long way out into the estuary.
The timing is fascinating, because it is not until deep into April (just before the ice melts from inland basins), that the loons complete their spring molt into their gorgeous breeding plumage, and are ready for the "dance floor" . How can completion of the spring molt be synchronized with ice-out? The only environmental factor that could affect both is air temperature.
And here is a nesting couple, on an inland pond, and dressed in that full breeding plumage. Gorgeous!
In this latitude, Loons begin losing breeding plumage in mid-September. The grizzled muzzle on this mother is not related to age. It is the first part of the breeding plumage to be lost, in mid-September. The chick is almost 90 days of age and will learn to fly soon (usually during the first north winds of late September).
The following two images of an adult loon were taken in October. This is the mother; the father has already left for wintering waters along the near-shore Atlantic.
This is the first image of mama searching for her two grown chicks. She surfaced and stopped, staring at me, not more than 15 feet from my bow and directly in my path. It was as if she wanted an answer to "Do you know where my kids went?"
Swimming just underwater for long distances, the exploring chicks surface in any direction from where they submerged. She could not keep up with them, and neither could I.
p.1 #11 · Common loon plumage - the molting process.
douter wrote:
Very nice captures, Robert! Have not seen any migrants here this year, yet.
Douglas.
Please keep us posted Douglas.
After reading your post, I did an Ai search and also searched "Birds of the World". I subscribe to "Birds of the World" ($40 per year seems fair to me). And one does not have to agree with every observation the researchers make.
Near as I can tell (not certain on this now ), Ohio is within the migratory pathway of Common Loons nesting all the way north into Alaska and all the geography between the two. Hope to spend the time. today for a closer look at the references.
I think we have to consider that it is colder up there than where I am in Maine. So, I'll guess that you'll soon see some loons passing northward
p.1 #13 · Common loon plumage - the molting process.
morris wrote:
The next to the last is my pick Robert. Great info
Morris
Thank you Morris. They are fascinating. And the most fun is just watching them and learning from them. It's true; it sure beats sitting at a computer and post-processing images.
In that image you picked, she was having the same problem I was. One cannot keep up with the chicks when they are that age. When she popped up in front of me, she stared at me for the longest moment then continued to try to find them to give one the smelt.
In the image it is October and both chicks have already learned to fly. So, they could have left for the coast by now. But they chose to stay because they enjoy exploring this basin. And they can swim just under the surface for huge distances (roughly 200 yards?) and pop up in any direction. So, it is impossible to keep track of them.
. How can completion of the spring molt be synchronized with ice-out? The only environmental factor that could affect both is air temperature. 
