When do purple martins leave Louisiana?

Most Purple Martins have left Louisiana by late July, 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 Louisiana?

The Purple Martin is reported most often in mid June, on about 24% of Louisiana checklists.

Purple Martin · Progne subis

When Do Purple Martins Arrive in Louisiana?

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

Purple Martins reach Louisiana in early February, are common by early March, peak in mid June (24% of checklists), and most are gone by late July.

When to look

First arrivalsFeb 1-7early February

Common byMar 1-7early March

PeakJun 15-21mid June

Most gone byJul 22-31late July

Best: mid June. First arrivals early February; most are gone by late July. Peak: on about 24% of Louisiana checklists.

Janrare
Febuncommon
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Auguncommon
Sepuncommon
Octnot usually seen
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

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

Purple Martins in Louisiana, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Purple Martin	Feb 1-7	Mar 1-7	Jun 15-21	Jul 22-31	24%

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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana

Best counties for Purple Martin

Share of checklists at the peak

Acadia ParishBest the second week of June · 66 checklists that week, 4,718 in all61%
Lafourche ParishBest the second week of June · 66 checklists that week, 4,021 in all51%
Webster ParishBest mid June · 11 checklists that week, 418 in all48%
Lincoln ParishBest mid June · 38 checklists that week, 2,271 in all45%
Bossier ParishBest early May · 207 checklists that week, 3,463 in all45%
Washington ParishBest late June · 21 checklists that week, 975 in all44%

Common questions

When do purple martins arrive in Louisiana?: Purple Martins reach Louisiana in early February, are common by early March, peak in mid June (24% of checklists), and most are gone by late July.
When do purple martins leave Louisiana?: Most Purple Martins have left Louisiana by late July, 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 Louisiana?: The Purple Martin is reported most often in mid June, on about 24% of Louisiana checklists.