When do loons leave District of Columbia?

Most Common Loons have left District of Columbia by late May, when reports fall below half their usual rate.

When is the best time to see loons in District of Columbia?

The Common Loon is reported most often in the second week of April, on about 2.5% of District of Columbia checklists.

Common Loon · Gavia immer

When Do Loons Arrive in District of Columbia?

Photo: Hungry-Sarracenia Photo, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Common Loons arrive in District of Columbia in mid March, peak in the second week of April (2.5% of checklists), and most are gone by late May. They are the only regular loons in District of Columbia.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 15-21mid March

Common byMar 15-21mid March

PeakApr 8-14the second week of April

Most gone byMay 22-31late May

Best: the second week of April. First arrivals mid March; most are gone by late May. Peak: on about 2.5% of District of Columbia checklists.

Januncommon
Febuncommon
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maycommon
Jununcommon
Julrare
Augrare
Seprare
Octrare
Novcommon
Deccommon

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

Loons in District of Columbia, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Common Loon	Mar 15-21	Mar 15-21	Apr 8-14	May 22-31	2.5%

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 District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak

District of Columbia CountyBest the second week of April · 3394 checklists that week, 121,721 in all2.5%

Common questions

When do loons arrive in District of Columbia?: Common Loons arrive in District of Columbia in mid March, peak in the second week of April (2.5% of checklists), and most are gone by late May. They are the only regular loons in District of Columbia.
When do loons leave District of Columbia?: Most Common Loons have left District of Columbia by late May, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see loons in District of Columbia?: The Common Loon is reported most often in the second week of April, on about 2.5% of District of Columbia checklists.