Two days ago, I posted an artsy picture I described as a matutinal loon. At the time, I was struck more by the beauty of its pose than by its state of moult. Others challenged me on my assessment that this bird was in its non-breeding plumage. So, I went back to all of the pictures taken at the time and picked a conventional profile view (below). I agree, it seems to be in a transition from its breeding plumage to its non-breeding plumage, but it has not arrived yet.
Now, I have received another suggestion that this bird (photographed on September 23rd) is: “a non-breeder that has commenced molt in advance of the breeders in the population.” So, I have a question for the birders of this area: When is this transition made locally? Is this bird early or not?
Common Loon: September 23, 2011, Kootenay Lake
