WhenToBird

Purple Martin · Progne subis

When Do Purple Martins Arrive in Florida?

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

Purple Martins reach Florida in mid January, are common by the second week of February, peak in late May (9.8% of checklists), and most are gone by early September.

When to look

First arrivalsJan 15-21mid January
Common byFeb 8-14the second week of February
PeakMay 22-31late May
Most gone bySep 1-7early September

Best: late May. First arrivals mid January; most are gone by early September. Peak: on about 9.8% of Florida checklists.

  1. Januncommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octnot usually seen
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Purple Martins in Florida, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Purple MartinJan 15-21Feb 8-14May 22-31Sep 1-79.8%
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 Florida 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 Florida

Best counties for Purple Martin

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Hendry CountyBest the second week of May · 40 checklists that week, 3,103 in all41%
  2. Washington CountyBest early April · 50 checklists that week, 1,773 in all32%
  3. Levy CountyBest the second week of August · 200 checklists that week, 15,032 in all32%
  4. Dixie CountyBest early June · 57 checklists that week, 2,113 in all30%
  5. Sarasota CountyBest the second week of April · 3321 checklists that week, 120,976 in all28%
  6. Santa Rosa CountyBest mid June · 206 checklists that week, 15,001 in all26%

Common questions

When do purple martins arrive in Florida?
Purple Martins reach Florida in mid January, are common by the second week of February, peak in late May (9.8% of checklists), and most are gone by early September.
When do purple martins leave Florida?
Most Purple Martins have left Florida by early September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid September.
When is the best time to see purple martins in Florida?
The Purple Martin is reported most often in late May, on about 9.8% of Florida checklists.