WhenToBird

2 loon species in Maryland

When Do Loons Arrive in Maryland?

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

Common Loons and Red-throated Loons are the loons you are most likely to see in Maryland. Common Loons are winter birds in Maryland: the first arrive in mid October, they are common by late October, peak in mid November (6.3% of checklists), and most are gone by early May.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 15-21mid October
Common byOct 22-31late October
PeakNov 15-21mid November
Most gone byMay 1-7early May

Best: mid November. First arrivals mid October; most are gone by early May. Peak: on about 6.3% of Maryland checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Mayuncommon
  6. Junrare
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Augnot usually seen
  9. Seprare
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

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

Loons in Maryland, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Common LoonOct 15-21Oct 22-31Nov 15-21May 1-76.3%
Red-throated LoonNov 1-7Nov 1-7Feb 22-28Apr 8-141.6%
0%2%4%6%8%Common LoonRed-throated LoonJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Common Loon
  • Red-throated 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 Maryland 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 Maryland

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Worcester CountyBest late January · 1042 checklists that week, 44,596 in all41%
  2. St. Mary's CountyBest late January · 504 checklists that week, 20,572 in all23%
  3. Queen Anne's CountyBest early April · 549 checklists that week, 26,875 in all21%
  4. Calvert CountyBest mid November · 634 checklists that week, 43,807 in all18%
  5. Somerset CountyBest mid November · 57 checklists that week, 9,451 in all15%
  6. Talbot CountyBest the second week of November · 361 checklists that week, 31,140 in all14%

Common questions

When do loons arrive in Maryland?
Common Loons are winter birds in Maryland: the first arrive in mid October, they are common by late October, peak in mid November (6.3% of checklists), and most are gone by early May.
When do loons leave Maryland?
Most Common Loons have left Maryland by early May, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid May.
When is the best time to see loons in Maryland?
The Common Loon is reported most often in mid November, on about 6.3% of Maryland checklists.
Which loons are in Maryland?
Common Loon and Red-throated Loon are reported regularly; the Common Loon is the most common.