When do purple martins leave Michigan?

Most Purple Martins have left Michigan 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 Michigan?

The Purple Martin is reported most often in late July, on about 7.4% of Michigan checklists.

Purple Martin · Progne subis

When Do Purple Martins Arrive in Michigan?

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

Purple Martins arrive in Michigan in mid April, peak in late July (7.4% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April

Common byApr 15-21mid April

PeakJul 22-31late July

Most gone byAug 22-31late August

Best: late July. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by late August. Peak: on about 7.4% of Michigan checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marnot usually seen
Apruncommon
Maycommon
Juncommon
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Sepuncommon
Octnot usually seen
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

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

Purple Martins in Michigan, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Purple Martin	Apr 15-21	Apr 15-21	Jul 22-31	Aug 22-31	7.4%

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 Michigan 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 Michigan

Best counties for Purple Martin

Share of checklists at the peak

Monroe CountyBest the second week of August · 499 checklists that week, 22,078 in all47%
Bay CountyBest mid July · 313 checklists that week, 16,522 in all41%
Branch CountyBest late May · 61 checklists that week, 2,279 in all26%
Hillsdale CountyBest late July · 245 checklists that week, 9,510 in all25%
Arenac CountyBest late July · 136 checklists that week, 4,464 in all24%
St. Joseph CountyBest early August · 87 checklists that week, 6,972 in all23%

Common questions

When do purple martins arrive in Michigan?: Purple Martins arrive in Michigan in mid April, peak in late July (7.4% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.
When do purple martins leave Michigan?: Most Purple Martins have left Michigan 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 Michigan?: The Purple Martin is reported most often in late July, on about 7.4% of Michigan checklists.