Loons are unique waterbirds found across North America. They are known for their striking black-and-white plumage and their haunting calls that echo across lakes and ponds. Loons mate for life and raise their young together as a family unit. A common question many people have about loons is how long their babies stay with their parents before leaving the nest.
Newly Hatched Loon Chicks
Loon chicks are precocial, meaning they are covered with downy feathers at hatching and are able to leave the nest shortly after hatching. However, loon chicks cannot swim or find food on their own right away. They rely completely on their parents for food, protection, and warmth in the first few weeks after hatching.
Loon eggs typically hatch in late June or early July after an incubation period of around 28-30 days. The hatchlings are less than 10 inches long and weigh only around 1 ounce at birth. Their gray down feathers help camouflage them against predators.
For at least the first 2 weeks after hatching, loon chicks ride on their parents’ backs to stay warm. The chicks’ light weight allows the adult loons to continue diving and foraging while their babies hitch a ride. During this time, the parents feed the chicks small fish and invertebrates like insects and crustaceans.
Development in the First Month
Within 4 weeks of hatching, loon chicks grow significantly in size and strength. They reach about 15 inches long and weigh around 1 pound. Their juvenile flight feathers start growing in, though they cannot fly yet. The chicks learn to swim short distances and even dive briefly under the water, but they still cannot feed themselves.
Loon parents continue to brood their chicks on their backs. The chicks now have enough strength to climb on and off their parents’ backs independently. The parents feed the chicks regurgitated fish and teach them to pick small food items from the water surface.
Both parents stay close to the chicks to protect them from predators like bald eagles, snapping turtles, and northern pike. One parent may lead the chicks away from danger while the other parent stays back to distract predators.
From 4 Weeks to 3 Months
Between 4 weeks and 3 months after hatching, loon chicks grow their first set of juvenile feathers. These feathers are waterproof but do not yet allow the young loons to fly. The chicks learn to dive and find some food on their own during this time. However, they still rely heavily on their parents for protection and supplemental feeding.
Some key development milestones for loon chicks at this stage include:
- Swimming farther distances up to 300 feet from parents
- Making short dives of 30 seconds or more
- Catching small fish and invertebrates
- Preening and cleaning feathers
- Vocalizing more complex calls
The chicks practice flapping their developing wings on the water surface. Their juvenile plumage starts to resemble the black-and-white patterns of adult loons, though the chicks’ colors are duller.
From 3 to 5 Months
Between 3 and 5 months after hatching, loon chicks undergo another growth spurt. They reach about two-thirds of adult size, up to 2 feet long and 4 pounds heavy. Their flight feathers finish growing in, and the young loons start experimenting with taking short flights of a few yards over the water.
Loon chicks at this stage can dive to depths over 10 feet to catch their own fish. They vocalize adult loon yodeling and wailing calls to communicate with their parents. The chicks still require their parents nearby for protection from predators and harsh weather conditions.
In late summer and early fall, loon parents and juveniles gradually move from inland lakes to large rivers, bays, and coastal areas where they will overwinter. The young loons build strength, stamina, and foraging skills for their southbound fall migration.
Complete Independence at 5 to 7 Months
Between 5 and 7 months after hatching, young loons reach adult size and are capable of flying long distances and diving to depths over 30 feet in search of food. At this stage, the juvenile loons have all the skills needed to survive on their own away from their parents.
Some key milestones as loon chicks reach complete independence include:
- Able to fly nonstop for hundreds of miles
- Diving to depths over 30 feet underwater
- Catching a variety of fish up to 10 inches long
- Recognizing and responding to danger independently
- Defending territory and finding a mate
In late fall, 5-7 month old loons leave their parents and migrate south separately. The young loons fly solo to wintering grounds where they will live on their own. In spring, they will return north and try to establish their own breeding territories at around 2-4 years old.
Unusual Cases of Extended Parental Care
While 5-7 months is the typical timeframe for loons to reach independence, there are some exceptions where loon chicks stay with their parents longer:
- Injured or ill chicks may require extra time to develop flight and foraging skills.
- Parents continuing to feed chicks struggling to find enough food on their own.
- Families that overwinter together in coastal areas may not fully separate until spring migration.
- Young from second broods may stay with parents for up to a year.
In most cases though, loon chicks are fully capable of surviving independently after their 5-7 month development period with their parents. The loon family unit stays together just long enough to transfer essential survival skills from parents to offspring.
Conclusion
Loon chicks go through dramatic growth and development in their first few months of life. While loon parents put tremendous energy into raising and protecting their young, the chicks need only 5-7 months with their parents to learn all the skills they need to survive on their own.
The long-term parental care provided by loons gives their chicks the best chance at fledging success. And the chicks’ timely independence prevents competition for resources between generations. This balance makes the 5-7 month timeframe ideal for loon chicks to thrive with their parents before setting off on their own.
