WhenToBird

Common Loon · Gavia immer

When Do Loons Arrive in Georgia?

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

Common Loons are winter birds in Georgia: they arrive in early November, peak in early December (2.4% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April. They are the only regular loons in Georgia.

When to look

First arrivalsNov 1-7early November
Common byNov 1-7early November
PeakDec 1-7early December
Most gone byApr 8-14the second week of April

Best: early December. First arrivals early November; most are gone by the second week of April. Peak: on about 2.4% of Georgia checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  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 Georgia, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Common LoonNov 1-7Nov 1-7Dec 1-7Apr 8-142.4%
0%1%2%3%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 Georgia 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 Georgia

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Clay CountyBest late January · 41 checklists that week, 775 in all61%
  2. Hart CountyBest early January · 32 checklists that week, 1,457 in all55%
  3. Lincoln CountyBest early December · 11 checklists that week, 569 in all52%
  4. Troup CountyBest early December · 69 checklists that week, 3,539 in all41%
  5. Fannin CountyBest early December · 122 checklists that week, 6,483 in all33%
  6. Elbert CountyBest the second week of March · 13 checklists that week, 614 in all27%

Common questions

When do loons arrive in Georgia?
Common Loons are winter birds in Georgia: they arrive in early November, peak in early December (2.4% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April. They are the only regular loons in Georgia.
When do loons leave Georgia?
Most Common Loons have left Georgia by the second week of April, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see loons in Georgia?
The Common Loon is reported most often in early December, on about 2.4% of Georgia checklists.