WhenToBird

Common Loon · Gavia immer

When Do Loons Arrive in West Virginia?

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

Common Loons are winter birds in West Virginia: they arrive in mid October, peak in mid November (2.7% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of January. They are the only regular loons in West Virginia.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 15-21mid October
Common byOct 15-21mid October
PeakNov 15-21mid November
Most gone byJan 8-14the second week of January

Best: mid November. First arrivals mid October; most are gone by the second week of January. Peak: on about 2.7% of West Virginia checklists.

  1. Januncommon
  2. Febrare
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Mayuncommon
  6. Junrare
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Augnot usually seen
  9. Sepnot usually seen
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Deccommon

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

Loons in West Virginia, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Common LoonOct 15-21Oct 15-21Nov 15-21Jan 8-142.7%
0%1%2%3%4%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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia

Best counties for Common Loon

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Taylor CountyBest mid November · 49 checklists that week, 2,541 in all17%
  2. Wayne CountyBest mid November · 15 checklists that week, 816 in all16%
  3. Grant CountyBest early April · 46 checklists that week, 3,867 in all12%
  4. Nicholas CountyBest mid November · 25 checklists that week, 2,123 in all10%
  5. Monroe CountyBest early November · 41 checklists that week, 1,298 in all8.1%
  6. Monongalia CountyBest mid November · 360 checklists that week, 21,393 in all8.1%

Common questions

When do loons arrive in West Virginia?
Common Loons are winter birds in West Virginia: they arrive in mid October, peak in mid November (2.7% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of January. They are the only regular loons in West Virginia.
When do loons leave West Virginia?
Most Common Loons have left West Virginia by the second week of January, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see loons in West Virginia?
The Common Loon is reported most often in mid November, on about 2.7% of West Virginia checklists.