WhenToBird

2 loon species in Washington

When Do Loons Arrive in Washington?

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 Washington. Common Loons are winter birds in Washington: the first arrive in early August, they are common by early September, peak in late October (10% of checklists), and most are gone by early May.

When to look

First arrivalsAug 1-7early August
Common bySep 1-7early September
PeakOct 22-31late October
Most gone byMay 1-7early May

Best: late October. First arrivals early August; most are gone by early May. Peak: on about 10% of Washington checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maycommon
  6. Junrare
  7. Julrare
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Deccommon

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

Loons in Washington, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Common LoonAug 1-7Sep 1-7Oct 22-31May 1-710%
Red-throated LoonSep 22-30Sep 22-30Jan 8-14Mar 15-212.9%
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 Washington 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 Washington

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Jefferson CountyBest late October · 1299 checklists that week, 59,663 in all34%
  2. Pacific CountyBest late April · 1007 checklists that week, 19,516 in all30%
  3. Grays Harbor CountyBest late October · 462 checklists that week, 28,443 in all27%
  4. Whatcom CountyBest late November · 1528 checklists that week, 64,687 in all25%
  5. Island CountyBest mid October · 646 checklists that week, 46,092 in all24%
  6. Clallam CountyBest late October · 2260 checklists that week, 85,362 in all24%

Common questions

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