WhenToBird

Common Loon · Gavia immer

When Do Loons Arrive in Missouri?

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

Common Loons are winter birds in Missouri: they arrive in mid October, peak in the second week of November (4.3% of checklists), and most are gone by mid January. They are the only regular loons in Missouri.

When to look

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

Best: the second week of November. First arrivals mid October; most are gone by mid January. Peak: on about 4.3% of Missouri checklists.

  1. Januncommon
  2. Febrare
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprcommon
  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 Missouri, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Common LoonOct 15-21Oct 15-21Nov 8-14Jan 15-214.3%
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 Missouri 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 Missouri

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Cedar CountyBest late November · 37 checklists that week, 2,336 in all47%
  2. Clay CountyBest the second week of November · 334 checklists that week, 14,361 in all36%
  3. Hickory CountyBest late November · 16 checklists that week, 452 in all31%
  4. Stone CountyBest the second week of December · 11 checklists that week, 1,779 in all29%
  5. Monroe CountyBest the second week of November · 30 checklists that week, 1,048 in all27%
  6. Putnam CountyBest early April · 22 checklists that week, 790 in all23%

Common questions

When do loons arrive in Missouri?
Common Loons are winter birds in Missouri: they arrive in mid October, peak in the second week of November (4.3% of checklists), and most are gone by mid January. They are the only regular loons in Missouri.
When do loons leave Missouri?
Most Common Loons have left Missouri by mid January, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see loons in Missouri?
The Common Loon is reported most often in the second week of November, on about 4.3% of Missouri checklists.