WhenToBird

Common Loon · Gavia immer

When Do Loons Arrive in Oklahoma?

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

Common Loons are winter birds in Oklahoma: they arrive in late October, peak in mid November (4.7% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April. They are the only regular loons in Oklahoma.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 22-31late October
Common byOct 22-31late October
PeakNov 15-21mid November
Most gone byApr 8-14the second week of April

Best: mid November. First arrivals late October; most are gone by the second week of April. Peak: on about 4.7% of Oklahoma checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marcommon
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Mayrare
  6. Junrare
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Augrare
  9. Sepnot usually seen
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

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

Loons in Oklahoma, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Common LoonOct 22-31Oct 22-31Nov 15-21Apr 8-144.7%
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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Cherokee CountyBest mid November · 56 checklists that week, 2,266 in all53%
  2. Pawnee CountyBest the second week of December · 22 checklists that week, 948 in all40%
  3. Love CountyBest late January · 14 checklists that week, 490 in all36%
  4. Marshall CountyBest late December · 18 checklists that week, 590 in all29%
  5. Noble CountyBest early December · 35 checklists that week, 1,320 in all28%
  6. Sequoyah CountyBest mid January · 25 checklists that week, 1,522 in all28%

Common questions

When do loons arrive in Oklahoma?
Common Loons are winter birds in Oklahoma: they arrive in late October, peak in mid November (4.7% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April. They are the only regular loons in Oklahoma.
When do loons leave Oklahoma?
Most Common Loons have left Oklahoma by the second week of April, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see loons in Oklahoma?
The Common Loon is reported most often in mid November, on about 4.7% of Oklahoma checklists.