Jan. 10, 2016 - Common Loons molting

Here’s a set of photos especially for my sister who really likes Loons. Most Minnesotans would recognize our state bird, the Common Loon in its breeding plumage, as it appears in the photo on the left. But would they recognize the bird on the right as a Common Loon in its non-breeding (winter) plumage? The photo on the left was taken July 11, 2015, at our home in northern Minnesota. The one on the right was taken yesterday here in Apalachicola, Florida.

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Bird feathers get worn out from daily wear and tear. Most birds replace all their feathers at least once a year. This process is called molting. Some birds, like Loons, molt twice a year and grow a very different looking set of feathers for the breeding season. Loons start molting into non-breeding plumage in late summer. I was able to photograph part of the molting process this year. On August 27, this loon was just beginning to molt. Notice the white feathers replacing the black ones on the cheek of the bird.

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Here’s a photo of the same loon on August 29.

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On September 3, the mate of the molting bird has barely started its molt.

LoonCommonmoltingDunningLakeItascaCounty20150903

This was taken September 10; now there are more white feathers appearing on the face. Also, the distinct white pattern on the back of the bird is disappearing.

LoonCommonmoltingDunningLakeItascaCounty20150910

On September 13, most of the feathers on the head are looking a little tattered. By the next day, the loons were gone from our lake, so that was the end of my molting documentation.

LoonCommonmoltingDunningLakeItascaCounty20150913