Birding/Common Loon

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Expert: - 1/17/2006


Question
Dear Mr. Lederer,

I have a question regarding a bird I saw today (January 17th). I live in Englewood, NJ, and as my bus passed the Meadlowlands marshy area today, I could have sworn I saw a pair of Common Loons in the water. And the even stranger thing was that one of them looked as though he had his breeding plumage. So I guess I'd like to know a) is it possible for a loon to be here during winter, and b) if not, what bird would have similar plumage in winter that I may have mistaken it for?

Thanks in advance!  

Sincerely,

Stephanie Seymour

Answer
Common Loons winter all along the east (and west) coast from Florida to Nova Scotia. Although they don't start breeding until March, it is certainly possible that they have their breeding plumage on now. For more information on wild birds, see www.ornithology.com. Roger Lederer

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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