WhenToBird

Common Loon · Gavia immer

When Do Loons Arrive in Kansas?

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

Common Loons are winter birds in Kansas: they arrive in mid October, peak in the second week of November (3.9% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of January. They are the only regular loons in Kansas.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 15-21mid October
Common byOct 15-21mid October
PeakNov 8-14the second week of November
Most gone byJan 8-14the second week of January

Best: the second week of November. First arrivals mid October; most are gone by the second week of January. Peak: on about 3.9% of Kansas 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. Octcommon
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Deccommon

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

Loons in Kansas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Common LoonOct 15-21Oct 15-21Nov 8-14Jan 8-143.9%
0%2%4%6%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 Kansas 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 Kansas

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Russell CountyBest late November · 162 checklists that week, 5,277 in all31%
  2. Jefferson CountyBest the second week of November · 266 checklists that week, 6,538 in all25%
  3. Linn CountyBest early February · 54 checklists that week, 2,601 in all21%
  4. Osage CountyBest early April · 65 checklists that week, 3,723 in all15%
  5. Geary CountyBest late March · 77 checklists that week, 1,557 in all15%
  6. Kearny CountyBest late June · 10 checklists that week, 452 in all14%

Common questions

When do loons arrive in Kansas?
Common Loons are winter birds in Kansas: they arrive in mid October, peak in the second week of November (3.9% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of January. They are the only regular loons in Kansas.
When do loons leave Kansas?
Most Common Loons have left Kansas by the second week of January, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see loons in Kansas?
The Common Loon is reported most often in the second week of November, on about 3.9% of Kansas checklists.