WhenToBird

Purple Martin · Progne subis

When Do Purple Martins Arrive in Arkansas?

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

Purple Martins reach Arkansas in early March, are common by mid March, peak in the second week of July (14% of checklists), and most are gone by mid August.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 1-7early March
Common byMar 15-21mid March
PeakJul 8-14the second week of July
Most gone byAug 15-21mid August

Best: the second week of July. First arrivals early March; most are gone by mid August. Peak: on about 14% of Arkansas checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febrare
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maycommon
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augcommon
  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 Arkansas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Purple MartinMar 1-7Mar 15-21Jul 8-14Aug 15-2114%
0%5%10%15%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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas

Best counties for Purple Martin

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Izard CountyBest late July · 15 checklists that week, 788 in all39%
  2. Sebastian CountyBest the second week of July · 61 checklists that week, 4,415 in all36%
  3. Independence CountyBest early July · 16 checklists that week, 715 in all35%
  4. Montgomery CountyBest late July · 12 checklists that week, 758 in all33%
  5. Crittenden CountyBest mid June · 19 checklists that week, 1,136 in all31%
  6. Clay CountyBest late March · 35 checklists that week, 871 in all30%

Common questions

When do purple martins arrive in Arkansas?
Purple Martins reach Arkansas in early March, are common by mid March, peak in the second week of July (14% of checklists), and most are gone by mid August.
When do purple martins leave Arkansas?
Most Purple Martins have left Arkansas by mid August, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early September.
When is the best time to see purple martins in Arkansas?
The Purple Martin is reported most often in the second week of July, on about 14% of Arkansas checklists.