WhenToBird

2 loon species in Oregon

When Do Loons Arrive in Oregon?

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 Oregon. Common Loons are winter birds in Oregon: the first arrive in early September, they are common by mid September, peak in early November (5.4% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of May.

When to look

First arrivalsSep 1-7early September
Common bySep 15-21mid September
PeakNov 1-7early November
Most gone byMay 8-14the second week of May

Best: early November. First arrivals early September; most are gone by the second week of May. Peak: on about 5.4% of Oregon checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maycommon
  6. Junrare
  7. Julrare
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Sepuncommon
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Deccommon

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

Loons in Oregon, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Common LoonSep 1-7Sep 15-21Nov 1-7May 8-145.4%
Red-throated LoonAug 22-31Aug 22-31Nov 8-14May 8-141.4%
0%2%4%6%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 Oregon 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 Oregon

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Lincoln CountyBest the second week of November · 1291 checklists that week, 66,994 in all32%
  2. Gilliam CountyBest late December · 59 checklists that week, 2,323 in all21%
  3. Jefferson CountyBest early November · 140 checklists that week, 11,014 in all19%
  4. Tillamook CountyBest mid April · 1046 checklists that week, 45,809 in all19%
  5. Umatilla CountyBest early November · 319 checklists that week, 17,651 in all18%
  6. Morrow CountyBest the second week of November · 74 checklists that week, 3,484 in all16%

Common questions

When do loons arrive in Oregon?
Common Loons are winter birds in Oregon: the first arrive in early September, they are common by mid September, peak in early November (5.4% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of May.
When do loons leave Oregon?
Most Common Loons have left Oregon by the second week of May, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid May.
When is the best time to see loons in Oregon?
The Common Loon is reported most often in early November, on about 5.4% of Oregon checklists.
Which loons are in Oregon?
Common Loon and Red-throated Loon are reported regularly; the Common Loon is the most common.