WhenToBird

Purple Martin · Progne subis

When Do Purple Martins Arrive in Nebraska?

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

Purple Martins reach Nebraska in early April, are common by the second week of April, peak in late July (13% of checklists), and most are gone by early September.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 1-7early April
Common byApr 8-14the second week of April
PeakJul 22-31late July
Most gone bySep 1-7early September

Best: late July. First arrivals early April; most are gone by early September. Peak: on about 13% of Nebraska 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 Nebraska, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Purple MartinApr 1-7Apr 8-14Jul 22-31Sep 1-713%
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 Nebraska 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 Nebraska

Best counties for Purple Martin

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Wayne CountyBest the second week of July · 19 checklists that week, 1,960 in all48%
  2. Platte CountyBest early July · 10 checklists that week, 1,287 in all47%
  3. Lancaster CountyBest late July · 749 checklists that week, 44,392 in all26%
  4. Johnson CountyBest mid May · 32 checklists that week, 429 in all25%
  5. Cherry CountyBest mid July · 75 checklists that week, 3,940 in all25%
  6. Sarpy CountyBest late July · 273 checklists that week, 14,942 in all25%

Common questions

When do purple martins arrive in Nebraska?
Purple Martins reach Nebraska in early April, are common by the second week of April, peak in late July (13% of checklists), and most are gone by early September.
When do purple martins leave Nebraska?
Most Purple Martins have left Nebraska by early September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid September.
When is the best time to see purple martins in Nebraska?
The Purple Martin is reported most often in late July, on about 13% of Nebraska checklists.