WhenToBird

Common Loon · Gavia immer

When Do Loons Arrive in Texas?

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

Common Loons are winter birds in Texas: they arrive in the second week of November, peak in the second week of December (1.3% of checklists), and most are gone by early April. They are the only regular loons in Texas.

When to look

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

Best: the second week of December. First arrivals the second week of November; most are gone by early April. Peak: on about 1.3% of Texas checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Mayrare
  6. Junrare
  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 Texas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Common LoonNov 8-14Nov 8-14Dec 8-14Apr 1-71.3%
0%0.5%1%1.5%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 Texas 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 Texas

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Marion CountyBest the second week of January · 26 checklists that week, 1,688 in all44%
  2. San Augustine CountyBest late December · 19 checklists that week, 745 in all38%
  3. Sabine CountyBest early December · 42 checklists that week, 1,870 in all33%
  4. Van Zandt CountyBest mid December · 35 checklists that week, 2,380 in all19%
  5. Hutchinson CountyBest early December · 47 checklists that week, 1,115 in all17%
  6. Morris CountyBest early February · 51 checklists that week, 2,618 in all17%

Common questions

When do loons arrive in Texas?
Common Loons are winter birds in Texas: they arrive in the second week of November, peak in the second week of December (1.3% of checklists), and most are gone by early April. They are the only regular loons in Texas.
When do loons leave Texas?
Most Common Loons have left Texas by early April, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see loons in Texas?
The Common Loon is reported most often in the second week of December, on about 1.3% of Texas checklists.