WhenToBird

Common Loon · Gavia immer

When Do Loons Arrive in Kentucky?

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

Common Loons are winter birds in Kentucky: they arrive in mid October, peak in late November (4.0% of checklists), and most are gone by early February. They are the only regular loons in Kentucky.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 15-21mid October
Common byOct 15-21mid October
PeakNov 22-30late November
Most gone byFeb 1-7early February

Best: late November. First arrivals mid October; most are gone by early February. Peak: on about 4.0% of Kentucky checklists.

  1. Januncommon
  2. Febuncommon
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Mayuncommon
  6. Junrare
  7. Julrare
  8. Augnot usually seen
  9. Sepnot usually seen
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

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

Loons in Kentucky, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Common LoonOct 15-21Oct 15-21Nov 22-30Feb 1-74.0%
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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Rockcastle CountyBest late March · 16 checklists that week, 598 in all43%
  2. Marshall CountyBest late November · 162 checklists that week, 7,392 in all39%
  3. Russell CountyBest mid November · 25 checklists that week, 1,208 in all38%
  4. Lincoln CountyBest the second week of December · 23 checklists that week, 2,393 in all36%
  5. Allen CountyBest the second week of November · 41 checklists that week, 2,170 in all31%
  6. Adair CountyBest the second week of November · 36 checklists that week, 903 in all29%

Common questions

When do loons arrive in Kentucky?
Common Loons are winter birds in Kentucky: they arrive in mid October, peak in late November (4.0% of checklists), and most are gone by early February. They are the only regular loons in Kentucky.
When do loons leave Kentucky?
Most Common Loons have left Kentucky by early February, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see loons in Kentucky?
The Common Loon is reported most often in late November, on about 4.0% of Kentucky checklists.