The American Birding Association has chosen its Bird of the Year for 2025 — and it's a symbol of the Northwoods. Learn about the bird!
Meet the 2025 ABA Bird of the Year
Published on Jan. 10, 2025
Every year, the American Birding Association (ABA) chooses a bird to highlight for the year ahead. Sometimes, these birds are commonly spotted in the backyard; others are trickier for birders to find. This year’s choice, however, is considered a favorite for its trademark call. Read on to learn about the ABA’s Bird of the Year for 2025!
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What Is The 2025 Bird of the Year?
This year, the ABA has chosen the common loon as its Bird of the Year. In its announcement of the year’s bird, the association highlights the ubiquity of the common loon — whether or not you’ve ever seen one in-person, you’ve undoubtedly heard its call in movies or TV shows.
“It simply is the outdoors,” they note in their announcement article, also noting that any common loon sighting feels incomplete without hearing the bird. “There’s something intangible about the call of a loon that makes the experience of only seeing one something entirely different,” they note. “Not necessarily lesser than, but incomplete. To hear it is to truly experience this spectacular bird.”
Where to See the 2025 Bird of the Year
To spot a common loon in North America, birders will need to head up north. Their breeding season range extends through the northernmost portions of the Midwest, including northern Minnesota, the upper peninsula of Michigan, and northern Wisconsin. They also appear in portions of Maine, and most of Canada.
You might spot a common loon in other parts of the U.S. during migration.
Learn to identify more water birds you should know.
Who Is The 2025 Bird of the Year Artist?
The ABA chose Minnesota-based artist Sam Zimmerman as its Bird of the Year artist for 2025. Sam works as an artist, author, and educator. The announcement article also highlights Sam’s Ojibwe heritage and explains that his art focuses on capturing and preserving those stories.
Visit the ABA website to listen to see Sam’s art and listen to an interview with him. Plus, have fun with the ABA’s common loon word search and coloring page.
Check out a list of previous years’ winners, too, including 2024’s golden-winged warbler.
Sources
- American Birding Association, “2025 ABA Bird of the Year: Common Loon”
- American Birding Association, “2025 Bird of the Year Artist Sam Zimmerman”
- National Audubon Society, “Audubon Field Guide: Common Loon“
