WhenToBird

2 loon species in Vermont

When Do Loons Arrive in Vermont?

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 Vermont. Common Loons are winter birds in Vermont: the first arrive in early April, they are common by the second week of April, peak in early November (10% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of January.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 1-7early April
Common byApr 8-14the second week of April
PeakNov 1-7early November
Most gone byJan 8-14the second week of January

Best: early November. First arrivals early April; most are gone by the second week of January. Peak: on about 10% of Vermont checklists.

  1. Januncommon
  2. Febrare
  3. Marrare
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maycommon
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Deccommon

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

Loons in Vermont, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Common LoonApr 1-7Apr 8-14Nov 1-7Jan 8-1410%
Red-throated LoonOct 15-21Oct 15-21Nov 8-14Nov 22-301.6%
0%5%10%15%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 Vermont 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 Vermont

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Grand Isle CountyBest early November · 142 checklists that week, 8,507 in all41%
  2. Orleans CountyBest late October · 270 checklists that week, 11,785 in all32%
  3. Essex CountyBest late October · 201 checklists that week, 9,416 in all25%
  4. Orange CountyBest early November · 192 checklists that week, 16,964 in all21%
  5. Chittenden CountyBest the second week of November · 1581 checklists that week, 109,477 in all15%
  6. Caledonia CountyBest the second week of July · 241 checklists that week, 10,534 in all15%

Common questions

When do loons arrive in Vermont?
Common Loons are winter birds in Vermont: the first arrive in early April, they are common by the second week of April, peak in early November (10% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of January.
When do loons leave Vermont?
Most Common Loons have left Vermont by the second week of January, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early February.
When is the best time to see loons in Vermont?
The Common Loon is reported most often in early November, on about 10% of Vermont checklists.
Which loons are in Vermont?
Common Loon and Red-throated Loon are reported regularly; the Common Loon is the most common.