When do loons leave New Mexico?

Most Common Loons have left New Mexico by late January, when reports fall below half their usual rate.

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

The Common Loon is reported most often in the second week of November, on about 1.1% of New Mexico checklists.

Common Loon · Gavia immer

When Do Loons Arrive in New Mexico?

Photo: Hungry-Sarracenia Photo, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Common Loons are winter birds in New Mexico: they arrive in late October, peak in the second week of November (1.1% of checklists), and most are gone by late January. They are the only regular loons in New Mexico.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 22-31late October

Common byOct 22-31late October

PeakNov 8-14the second week of November

Most gone byJan 22-31late January

Best: the second week of November. First arrivals late October; most are gone by late January. Peak: on about 1.1% of New Mexico checklists.

Januncommon
Febuncommon
Marrare
Aprrare
Mayrare
Junrare
Julrare
Augrare
Seprare
Octuncommon
Novpeak season
Deccommon

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

Loons in New Mexico, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Common Loon	Oct 22-31	Oct 22-31	Nov 8-14	Jan 22-31	1.1%

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 New Mexico 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 Mexico

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak

Quay CountyBest the second week of December · 34 checklists that week, 2,220 in all23%
De Baca CountyBest early December · 28 checklists that week, 2,203 in all22%
Cibola CountyBest mid November · 70 checklists that week, 3,986 in all11%
Mora CountyBest mid November · 22 checklists that week, 2,730 in all6.3%
Colfax CountyBest mid November · 107 checklists that week, 8,053 in all5.9%
Catron CountyBest late November · 96 checklists that week, 6,114 in all5.6%

Common questions

When do loons arrive in New Mexico?: Common Loons are winter birds in New Mexico: they arrive in late October, peak in the second week of November (1.1% of checklists), and most are gone by late January. They are the only regular loons in New Mexico.
When do loons leave New Mexico?: Most Common Loons have left New Mexico by late January, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see loons in New Mexico?: The Common Loon is reported most often in the second week of November, on about 1.1% of New Mexico checklists.