WhenToBird

Common Loon · Gavia immer

When Do Loons Arrive in Louisiana?

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

Common Loons are winter birds in Louisiana: they arrive in the second week of November, peak in the second week of February (2.8% of checklists), and most are gone by early April. They are the only regular loons in Louisiana.

When to look

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

Best: the second week of February. First arrivals the second week of November; most are gone by early April. Peak: on about 2.8% of Louisiana checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Mayuncommon
  6. Junrare
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Augnot usually seen
  9. Sepnot usually seen
  10. Octrare
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

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

Loons in Louisiana, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Common LoonNov 8-14Nov 8-14Feb 8-14Apr 1-72.8%
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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Jackson ParishBest early March · 20 checklists that week, 481 in all58%
  2. Sabine ParishBest mid February · 12 checklists that week, 541 in all34%
  3. Tensas ParishBest mid February · 42 checklists that week, 391 in all20%
  4. St. Bernard ParishBest early February · 29 checklists that week, 1,331 in all17%
  5. St. Tammany ParishBest late February · 629 checklists that week, 32,452 in all14%
  6. Claiborne ParishBest late February · 16 checklists that week, 1,949 in all11%

Common questions

When do loons arrive in Louisiana?
Common Loons are winter birds in Louisiana: they arrive in the second week of November, peak in the second week of February (2.8% of checklists), and most are gone by early April. They are the only regular loons in Louisiana.
When do loons leave Louisiana?
Most Common Loons have left Louisiana by early April, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of April.
When is the best time to see loons in Louisiana?
The Common Loon is reported most often in the second week of February, on about 2.8% of Louisiana checklists.