When do loons leave New Jersey?

Most Common Loons have left New Jersey by the second week of May, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early June.

When is the best time to see loons in New Jersey?

The Common Loon is reported most often in mid January, on about 8.4% of New Jersey checklists.

Which loons are in New Jersey?

Common Loon and Red-throated Loon are reported regularly; the Common Loon is the most common.

2 loon species in New Jersey

When Do Loons Arrive in New Jersey?

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 New Jersey. Common Loons are winter birds in New Jersey: the first arrive in early October, they are common by mid October, peak in mid January (8.4% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of May.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 1-7early October

Common byOct 15-21mid October

PeakJan 15-21mid January

Most gone byMay 8-14the second week of May

Best: mid January. First arrivals early October; most are gone by the second week of May. Peak: on about 8.4% of New Jersey checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marcommon
Aprcommon
Maycommon
Junrare
Julrare
Augrare
Seprare
Octcommon
Novcommon
Decpeak season

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

Loons in New Jersey, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Common Loon	Oct 1-7	Oct 15-21	Jan 15-21	May 8-14	8.4%
Red-throated Loon	Oct 15-21	Nov 1-7	Jan 8-14	Apr 8-14	6.0%

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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak

Ocean CountyBest early February · 2173 checklists that week, 87,340 in all28%
Monmouth CountyBest mid January · 1973 checklists that week, 79,748 in all22%
Cape May CountyBest mid January · 2533 checklists that week, 189,832 in all14%
Warren CountyBest the second week of April · 430 checklists that week, 20,077 in all14%
Hunterdon CountyBest early April · 1356 checklists that week, 57,610 in all14%
Atlantic CountyBest early February · 415 checklists that week, 28,208 in all12%

Common questions

When do loons arrive in New Jersey?: Common Loons are winter birds in New Jersey: the first arrive in early October, they are common by mid October, peak in mid January (8.4% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of May.
When do loons leave New Jersey?: Most Common Loons have left New Jersey by the second week of May, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early June.
When is the best time to see loons in New Jersey?: The Common Loon is reported most often in mid January, on about 8.4% of New Jersey checklists.
Which loons are in New Jersey?: Common Loon and Red-throated Loon are reported regularly; the Common Loon is the most common.