WhenToBird

Purple Martin · Progne subis

When Do Purple Martins Arrive in Delaware?

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

Purple Martins reach Delaware in late March, are common by mid April, peak in late July (36% of checklists), and most are gone by mid August.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 22-31late March
Common byApr 15-21mid April
PeakJul 22-31late July
Most gone byAug 15-21mid August

Best: late July. First arrivals late March; most are gone by mid August. Peak: on about 36% of Delaware checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marrare
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Maycommon
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Sepuncommon
  10. Octnot usually seen
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Purple Martins in Delaware, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Purple MartinMar 22-31Apr 15-21Jul 22-31Aug 15-2136%
0%10%20%30%40%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 Delaware 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 Delaware

Best counties for Purple Martin

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Kent CountyBest late July · 913 checklists that week, 36,693 in all42%
  2. Sussex CountyBest late July · 2088 checklists that week, 91,027 in all40%
  3. New Castle CountyBest early August · 904 checklists that week, 72,140 in all25%

Common questions

When do purple martins arrive in Delaware?
Purple Martins reach Delaware in late March, are common by mid April, peak in late July (36% of checklists), and most are gone by mid August.
When do purple martins leave Delaware?
Most Purple Martins have left Delaware by mid August, 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 Delaware?
The Purple Martin is reported most often in late July, on about 36% of Delaware checklists.