WhenToBird

Common Loon · Gavia immer

When Do Loons Arrive in Tennessee?

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

Common Loons are winter birds in Tennessee: the first arrive in late October, they are common by early November, peak in late November (8.6% of checklists), and most are gone by early April. They are the only regular loons in Tennessee.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 22-31late October
Common byNov 1-7early November
PeakNov 22-30late November
Most gone byApr 1-7early April

Best: late November. First arrivals late October; most are gone by early April. Peak: on about 8.6% of Tennessee checklists.

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

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

Loons in Tennessee, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Common LoonOct 22-31Nov 1-7Nov 22-30Apr 1-78.6%
0%5%10%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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. DeKalb CountyBest late November · 24 checklists that week, 2,539 in all63%
  2. Henry CountyBest mid November · 143 checklists that week, 5,668 in all45%
  3. Franklin CountyBest mid November · 89 checklists that week, 4,769 in all43%
  4. Clay CountyBest early March · 18 checklists that week, 704 in all40%
  5. Hardin CountyBest early December · 14 checklists that week, 2,710 in all37%
  6. Hamilton CountyBest late November · 1412 checklists that week, 56,614 in all26%

Common questions

When do loons arrive in Tennessee?
Common Loons are winter birds in Tennessee: the first arrive in late October, they are common by early November, peak in late November (8.6% of checklists), and most are gone by early April. They are the only regular loons in Tennessee.
When do loons leave Tennessee?
Most Common Loons have left Tennessee by early April, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid April.
When is the best time to see loons in Tennessee?
The Common Loon is reported most often in late November, on about 8.6% of Tennessee checklists.