WhenToBird

Purple Martin · Progne subis

When Do Purple Martins Arrive in Maryland?

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

Purple Martins reach Maryland in late March, are common by mid April, peak in late July (15% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 22-31late March
Common byApr 15-21mid 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 15% of Maryland 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 Maryland, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Purple MartinMar 22-31Apr 15-21Jul 22-31Aug 22-3115%
0%5%10%15%20%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 Maryland 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 Maryland

Best counties for Purple Martin

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Queen Anne's CountyBest mid July · 458 checklists that week, 26,875 in all51%
  2. Kent CountyBest late July · 250 checklists that week, 13,396 in all45%
  3. Talbot CountyBest late July · 630 checklists that week, 31,140 in all44%
  4. Cecil CountyBest the second week of August · 256 checklists that week, 18,620 in all36%
  5. Somerset CountyBest late July · 196 checklists that week, 9,451 in all33%
  6. Harford CountyBest the second week of August · 415 checklists that week, 39,311 in all33%

Common questions

When do purple martins arrive in Maryland?
Purple Martins reach Maryland in late March, are common by mid April, peak in late July (15% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.
When do purple martins leave Maryland?
Most Purple Martins have left Maryland by late 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 Maryland?
The Purple Martin is reported most often in late July, on about 15% of Maryland checklists.