WhenToBird

Common Loon · Gavia immer

When Do Loons Arrive in Nevada?

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

Common Loons are winter birds in Nevada: they arrive in the second week of October, peak in the second week of November (3.3% of checklists), and most are gone by early March. They are the only regular loons in Nevada.

When to look

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

Best: the second week of November. First arrivals the second week of October; most are gone by early March. Peak: on about 3.3% of Nevada checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febuncommon
  3. Maruncommon
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Mayuncommon
  6. Junrare
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Augrare
  9. Seprare
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Deccommon

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

Loons in Nevada, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Common LoonOct 8-14Oct 8-14Nov 8-14Mar 1-73.3%
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 Nevada 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 Nevada

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Douglas CountyBest early November · 109 checklists that week, 7,476 in all12%
  2. Pershing CountyBest late December · 13 checklists that week, 1,407 in all7.7%
  3. Elko CountyBest late April · 190 checklists that week, 8,844 in all7.4%
  4. Washoe CountyBest the second week of November · 932 checklists that week, 53,497 in all5.0%
  5. Churchill CountyBest early November · 40 checklists that week, 3,104 in all5.0%
  6. Clark CountyBest mid November · 1514 checklists that week, 80,458 in all3.1%

Common questions

When do loons arrive in Nevada?
Common Loons are winter birds in Nevada: they arrive in the second week of October, peak in the second week of November (3.3% of checklists), and most are gone by early March. They are the only regular loons in Nevada.
When do loons leave Nevada?
Most Common Loons have left Nevada by early March, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see loons in Nevada?
The Common Loon is reported most often in the second week of November, on about 3.3% of Nevada checklists.