WhenToBird

Common Loon · Gavia immer

When Do Loons Arrive in Arkansas?

Adult Common Loon
Photo: Hungry-Sarracenia Photo, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Common Loons are winter birds in Arkansas: they arrive in early November, peak in early December (3.3% of checklists), and most are gone by early April. They are the only regular loons in Arkansas.

When to look

First arrivalsNov 1-7early November
Common byNov 1-7early November
PeakDec 1-7early December
Most gone byApr 1-7early April

Best: early December. First arrivals early November; most are gone by early April. Peak: on about 3.3% of Arkansas checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Mayrare
  6. Junnot usually seen
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Augnot usually seen
  9. Sepnot usually seen
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.

Loons in Arkansas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Common LoonNov 1-7Nov 1-7Dec 1-7Apr 1-73.3%
0%1%2%3%4%Common LoonJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Common Loon
Share of complete checklists reporting each species, by week (4 per month). Gaps: fewer than 10 checklists that week.

Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Arkansas that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.

Where in Arkansas

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Clark CountyBest late November · 13 checklists that week, 809 in all39%
  2. Drew CountyBest late November · 16 checklists that week, 720 in all28%
  3. Pike CountyBest late November · 12 checklists that week, 451 in all19%
  4. Hot Spring CountyBest early January · 10 checklists that week, 726 in all15%
  5. Sharp CountyBest late March · 51 checklists that week, 2,019 in all15%
  6. Greene CountyBest mid November · 12 checklists that week, 1,025 in all15%

Common questions

When do loons arrive in Arkansas?
Common Loons are winter birds in Arkansas: they arrive in early November, peak in early December (3.3% of checklists), and most are gone by early April. They are the only regular loons in Arkansas.
When do loons leave Arkansas?
Most Common Loons have left Arkansas by early April, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of April.
When is the best time to see loons in Arkansas?
The Common Loon is reported most often in early December, on about 3.3% of Arkansas checklists.