WhenToBird

2 loon species in South Carolina

When Do Loons Arrive in South Carolina?

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 South Carolina. Common Loons are winter birds in South Carolina: the first arrive in the second week of November, they are common by mid November, peak in mid December (5.6% of checklists), and most are gone by early April.

When to look

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

Best: mid December. First arrivals the second week of November; most are gone by early April. Peak: on about 5.6% of South Carolina checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Mayrare
  6. Junnot usually seen
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Augnot usually seen
  9. Sepnot usually seen
  10. Octrare
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

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

Loons in South Carolina, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Common LoonNov 8-14Nov 15-21Dec 15-21Apr 1-75.6%
Red-throated LoonDec 1-7Dec 1-7Jan 8-14Mar 15-212.3%
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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Fairfield CountyBest early February · 19 checklists that week, 768 in all62%
  2. McCormick CountyBest late November · 52 checklists that week, 1,566 in all29%
  3. Oconee CountyBest late December · 283 checklists that week, 10,415 in all24%
  4. Georgetown CountyBest the second week of January · 666 checklists that week, 32,234 in all24%
  5. Pickens CountyBest the second week of December · 212 checklists that week, 13,660 in all22%
  6. Newberry CountyBest mid December · 75 checklists that week, 5,048 in all20%

Common questions

When do loons arrive in South Carolina?
Common Loons are winter birds in South Carolina: the first arrive in the second week of November, they are common by mid November, peak in mid December (5.6% of checklists), and most are gone by early April.
When do loons leave South Carolina?
Most Common Loons have left South Carolina by early April, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of April.
When is the best time to see loons in South Carolina?
The Common Loon is reported most often in mid December, on about 5.6% of South Carolina checklists.
Which loons are in South Carolina?
Common Loon and Red-throated Loon are reported regularly; the Common Loon is the most common.