WhenToBird

2 loon species in New York

When Do Loons Arrive in New York?

Adult Common Loon
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 York. Common Loons are winter birds in New York: the first arrive in early October, they are common by mid October, peak in mid November (7.3% of checklists), and most are gone by early May.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 1-7early October
Common byOct 15-21mid October
PeakNov 15-21mid November
Most gone byMay 1-7early May

Best: mid November. First arrivals early October; most are gone by early May. Peak: on about 7.3% of New York checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maycommon
  6. Jununcommon
  7. Juluncommon
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Sepuncommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

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

Loons in New York, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Common LoonOct 1-7Oct 15-21Nov 15-21May 1-77.3%
Red-throated LoonOct 22-31Oct 22-31Nov 22-30Apr 8-143.6%
0%2%4%6%8%Common LoonRed-throated LoonJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • 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 York 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 York

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Warren CountyBest early November · 108 checklists that week, 12,066 in all37%
  2. Hamilton CountyBest the second week of September · 271 checklists that week, 13,964 in all29%
  3. Clinton CountyBest early November · 128 checklists that week, 8,764 in all27%
  4. Franklin CountyBest early September · 426 checklists that week, 20,717 in all25%
  5. Bronx CountyBest late January · 612 checklists that week, 24,489 in all24%
  6. Nassau CountyBest late January · 2497 checklists that week, 95,019 in all24%

Common questions

When do loons arrive in New York?
Common Loons are winter birds in New York: the first arrive in early October, they are common by mid October, peak in mid November (7.3% of checklists), and most are gone by early May.
When do loons leave New York?
Most Common Loons have left New York by early May, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of June.
When is the best time to see loons in New York?
The Common Loon is reported most often in mid November, on about 7.3% of New York checklists.
Which loons are in New York?
Common Loon and Red-throated Loon are reported regularly; the Common Loon is the most common.