WhenToBird

Common Loon · Gavia immer

When Do Loons Arrive in Minnesota?

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

Common Loons reach Minnesota in late March, are common by early April, peak in mid April (9.9% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of November. They are the only regular loons in Minnesota.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 22-31late March
Common byApr 1-7early April
PeakApr 15-21mid April
Most gone byNov 8-14the second week of November

Best: mid April. First arrivals late March; most are gone by the second week of November. Peak: on about 9.9% of Minnesota checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Maruncommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maycommon
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Decrare

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

Loons in Minnesota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Common LoonMar 22-31Apr 1-7Apr 15-21Nov 8-149.9%
0%5%10%15%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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Clearwater CountyBest early August · 60 checklists that week, 2,315 in all52%
  2. Hubbard CountyBest the second week of August · 103 checklists that week, 5,131 in all52%
  3. Cass CountyBest late July · 344 checklists that week, 10,555 in all50%
  4. Beltrami CountyBest late July · 133 checklists that week, 6,476 in all39%
  5. Becker CountyBest mid July · 137 checklists that week, 8,604 in all37%
  6. Itasca CountyBest late July · 196 checklists that week, 6,805 in all37%

Common questions

When do loons arrive in Minnesota?
Common Loons reach Minnesota in late March, are common by early April, peak in mid April (9.9% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of November. They are the only regular loons in Minnesota.
When do loons leave Minnesota?
Most Common Loons have left Minnesota by the second week of November, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late November.
When is the best time to see loons in Minnesota?
The Common Loon is reported most often in mid April, on about 9.9% of Minnesota checklists.