WhenToBird

Common Loon · Gavia immer

When Do Loons Arrive in Nebraska?

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

Common Loons are winter birds in Nebraska: they arrive in early October, peak in the second week of November (2.1% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of December. They are the only regular loons in Nebraska.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 1-7early October
Common byOct 1-7early October
PeakNov 8-14the second week of November
Most gone byDec 8-14the second week of December

Best: the second week of November. First arrivals early October; most are gone by the second week of December. Peak: on about 2.1% of Nebraska checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Mayuncommon
  6. Jununcommon
  7. Julrare
  8. Augrare
  9. Seprare
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decrare

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

Loons in Nebraska, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Common LoonOct 1-7Oct 1-7Nov 8-14Dec 8-142.1%
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 Nebraska 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 Nebraska

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Keith CountyBest late April · 110 checklists that week, 3,876 in all20%
  2. Hitchcock CountyBest early December · 15 checklists that week, 441 in all20%
  3. Sherman CountyBest the second week of November · 11 checklists that week, 399 in all20%
  4. Pierce CountyBest early April · 10 checklists that week, 516 in all14%
  5. Knox CountyBest early November · 68 checklists that week, 2,080 in all12%
  6. Cedar CountyBest late April · 50 checklists that week, 1,691 in all11%

Common questions

When do loons arrive in Nebraska?
Common Loons are winter birds in Nebraska: they arrive in early October, peak in the second week of November (2.1% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of December. They are the only regular loons in Nebraska.
When do loons leave Nebraska?
Most Common Loons have left Nebraska by the second week of December, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see loons in Nebraska?
The Common Loon is reported most often in the second week of November, on about 2.1% of Nebraska checklists.