WhenToBird

2 loon species in Rhode Island

When Do Loons Arrive in Rhode Island?

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 Rhode Island. Common Loons are winter birds in Rhode Island: the first arrive in the second week of October, they are common by early November, peak in mid December (20% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 8-14the second week of October
Common byNov 1-7early November
PeakDec 15-21mid December
Most gone byApr 8-14the second week of April

Best: mid December. First arrivals the second week of October; most are gone by the second week of April. Peak: on about 20% of Rhode Island checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Mayuncommon
  6. Junrare
  7. Julrare
  8. Augrare
  9. Seprare
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

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

Loons in Rhode Island, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Common LoonOct 8-14Nov 1-7Dec 15-21Apr 8-1420%
Red-throated LoonOct 15-21Oct 22-31Nov 22-30Apr 1-713%
0%10%20%30%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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Newport CountyBest late November · 710 checklists that week, 33,574 in all33%
  2. Washington CountyBest early December · 863 checklists that week, 65,038 in all28%
  3. Bristol CountyBest late January · 402 checklists that week, 15,899 in all17%
  4. Providence CountyBest late January · 1007 checklists that week, 40,898 in all6.8%
  5. Kent CountyBest early March · 296 checklists that week, 16,966 in all5.9%

Common questions

When do loons arrive in Rhode Island?
Common Loons are winter birds in Rhode Island: the first arrive in the second week of October, they are common by early November, peak in mid December (20% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April.
When do loons leave Rhode Island?
Most Common Loons have left Rhode Island by the second week of April, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late May.
When is the best time to see loons in Rhode Island?
The Common Loon is reported most often in mid December, on about 20% of Rhode Island checklists.
Which loons are in Rhode Island?
Common Loon and Red-throated Loon are reported regularly; the Common Loon is the most common.