When do purple martins leave District of Columbia?

Most Purple Martins have left District of Columbia by the second week of August, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid August.

When is the best time to see purple martins in District of Columbia?

The Purple Martin is reported most often in the second week of July, on about 4.1% of District of Columbia checklists.

Purple Martin · Progne subis

When Do Purple Martins Arrive in District of Columbia?

Photo: Ron Bondy, CC BY-SA 4.0 via iNaturalist

Purple Martins reach District of Columbia in late March, are common by early April, peak in the second week of July (4.1% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of August.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 22-31late March

Common byApr 1-7early April

PeakJul 8-14the second week of July

Most gone byAug 8-14the second week of August

Best: the second week of July. First arrivals late March; most are gone by the second week of August. Peak: on about 4.1% of District of Columbia checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Maruncommon
Aprcommon
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seprare
Octnot usually seen
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

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

Purple Martins in District of Columbia, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Purple Martin	Mar 22-31	Apr 1-7	Jul 8-14	Aug 8-14	4.1%

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 District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia

Best counties for Purple Martin

Share of checklists at the peak

District of Columbia CountyBest the second week of July · 1353 checklists that week, 121,721 in all4.1%

Common questions

When do purple martins arrive in District of Columbia?: Purple Martins reach District of Columbia in late March, are common by early April, peak in the second week of July (4.1% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of August.
When do purple martins leave District of Columbia?: Most Purple Martins have left District of Columbia by the second week of August, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid August.
When is the best time to see purple martins in District of Columbia?: The Purple Martin is reported most often in the second week of July, on about 4.1% of District of Columbia checklists.