WhenToBird

Purple Martin · Progne subis

When Do Purple Martins Arrive in Mississippi?

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

Purple Martins reach Mississippi in the second week of February, are common by early March, peak in late June (17% of checklists), and most are gone by late July.

When to look

First arrivalsFeb 8-14the second week of February
Common byMar 1-7early March
PeakJun 22-30late June
Most gone byJul 22-31late July

Best: late June. First arrivals the second week of February; most are gone by late July. Peak: on about 17% of Mississippi checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febuncommon
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maycommon
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Seprare
  10. Octnot usually seen
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Purple Martins in Mississippi, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Purple MartinFeb 8-14Mar 1-7Jun 22-30Jul 22-3117%
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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi

Best counties for Purple Martin

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Lee CountyBest the second week of June · 20 checklists that week, 2,179 in all52%
  2. Tate CountyBest mid June · 16 checklists that week, 510 in all44%
  3. DeSoto CountyBest the second week of June · 90 checklists that week, 5,093 in all36%
  4. Adams CountyBest the second week of June · 26 checklists that week, 1,749 in all34%
  5. Simpson CountyBest early June · 23 checklists that week, 637 in all32%
  6. Noxubee CountyBest mid June · 65 checklists that week, 5,841 in all30%

Common questions

When do purple martins arrive in Mississippi?
Purple Martins reach Mississippi in the second week of February, are common by early March, peak in late June (17% of checklists), and most are gone by late July.
When do purple martins leave Mississippi?
Most Purple Martins have left Mississippi 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 Mississippi?
The Purple Martin is reported most often in late June, on about 17% of Mississippi checklists.