WhenToBird

Purple Martin · Progne subis

When Do Purple Martins Arrive in Alabama?

Adult female Purple Martin
Photo: Ron Bondy, CC BY-SA 4.0 via iNaturalist

Purple Martins reach Alabama in the second week of February, are common by early March, peak in mid June (17% of checklists), and most are gone by late July.

When to look

First arrivalsFeb 8-14the second week of February
Common byMar 1-7early March
PeakJun 15-21mid June
Most gone byJul 22-31late July

Best: mid June. First arrivals the second week of February; most are gone by late July. Peak: on about 17% of Alabama checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febuncommon
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Seprare
  10. Octnot usually seen
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Purple Martins in Alabama, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Purple MartinFeb 8-14Mar 1-7Jun 15-21Jul 22-3117%
0%5%10%15%20%Purple MartinJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Purple Martin
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 Alabama 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 Alabama

Best counties for Purple Martin

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Geneva CountyBest late May · 98 checklists that week, 3,203 in all81%
  2. Marengo CountyBest the second week of May · 58 checklists that week, 2,453 in all50%
  3. Washington CountyBest late July · 14 checklists that week, 237 in all41%
  4. Sumter CountyBest early July · 49 checklists that week, 782 in all38%
  5. Morgan CountyBest early July · 46 checklists that week, 6,256 in all36%
  6. Lowndes CountyBest late May · 10 checklists that week, 1,094 in all36%

Common questions

When do purple martins arrive in Alabama?
Purple Martins reach Alabama in the second week of February, are common by early March, peak in mid June (17% of checklists), and most are gone by late July.
When do purple martins leave Alabama?
Most Purple Martins have left Alabama by late July, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of September.
When is the best time to see purple martins in Alabama?
The Purple Martin is reported most often in mid June, on about 17% of Alabama checklists.