WhenToBird

Purple Martin · Progne subis

When Do Purple Martins Arrive in Indiana?

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

Purple Martins reach Indiana in late March, are common by the second week of April, peak in late July (12% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 22-31late March
Common byApr 8-14the second week of April
PeakJul 22-31late July
Most gone byAug 22-31late August

Best: late July. First arrivals late March; most are gone by late August. Peak: on about 12% of Indiana checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marrare
  4. Aprcommon
  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 Indiana, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Purple MartinMar 22-31Apr 8-14Jul 22-31Aug 22-3112%
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 Indiana 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 Indiana

Best counties for Purple Martin

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Scott CountyBest the second week of May · 24 checklists that week, 798 in all58%
  2. Washington CountyBest mid July · 18 checklists that week, 1,463 in all57%
  3. Blackford CountyBest late July · 23 checklists that week, 962 in all54%
  4. Warrick CountyBest mid July · 67 checklists that week, 10,073 in all45%
  5. Adams CountyBest mid July · 19 checklists that week, 1,306 in all37%
  6. LaGrange CountyBest late July · 147 checklists that week, 7,944 in all36%

Common questions

When do purple martins arrive in Indiana?
Purple Martins reach Indiana in late March, are common by the second week of April, peak in late July (12% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.
When do purple martins leave Indiana?
Most Purple Martins have left Indiana by late 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 Indiana?
The Purple Martin is reported most often in late July, on about 12% of Indiana checklists.