WhenToBird

Common Loon · Gavia immer

When Do Loons Arrive in Indiana?

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

Common Loons are winter birds in Indiana: the first arrive in early March, they are common by the second week of March, peak in late March (8.0% of checklists), and most are gone by late April. They are the only regular loons in Indiana.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 1-7early March
Common byMar 8-14the second week of March
PeakMar 22-31late March
Most gone byApr 22-30late April

Best: late March. First arrivals early March; most are gone by late April. Peak: on about 8.0% of Indiana checklists.

  1. Januncommon
  2. Febrare
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Mayrare
  6. Junnot usually seen
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Augnot usually seen
  9. Sepnot usually seen
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Deccommon

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

Loons in Indiana, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Common LoonMar 1-7Mar 8-14Mar 22-31Apr 22-308.0%
0%5%10%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 Indiana 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 Indiana

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Whitley CountyBest early April · 140 checklists that week, 4,695 in all45%
  2. Dubois CountyBest late November · 29 checklists that week, 1,896 in all34%
  3. Scott CountyBest mid November · 21 checklists that week, 798 in all34%
  4. Marshall CountyBest mid November · 14 checklists that week, 1,525 in all30%
  5. Howard CountyBest late March · 19 checklists that week, 788 in all29%
  6. Orange CountyBest mid December · 100 checklists that week, 1,311 in all29%

Common questions

When do loons arrive in Indiana?
Common Loons are winter birds in Indiana: the first arrive in early March, they are common by the second week of March, peak in late March (8.0% of checklists), and most are gone by late April. They are the only regular loons in Indiana.
When do loons leave Indiana?
Most Common Loons have left Indiana by late April, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see loons in Indiana?
The Common Loon is reported most often in late March, on about 8.0% of Indiana checklists.