WhenToBird

Purple Martin · Progne subis

When Do Purple Martins Arrive in New York?

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

Purple Martins reach New York in the second week of April, are common by mid April, peak in early August (6.3% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 8-14the second week of April
Common byApr 15-21mid April
PeakAug 1-7early August
Most gone byAug 22-31late August

Best: early August. First arrivals the second week of April; most are gone by late August. Peak: on about 6.3% of New York checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  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 New York, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Purple MartinApr 8-14Apr 15-21Aug 1-7Aug 22-316.3%
0%2%4%6%8%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 New York 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 New York

Best counties for Purple Martin

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Seneca CountyBest mid July · 808 checklists that week, 47,387 in all37%
  2. Genesee CountyBest early August · 218 checklists that week, 17,726 in all25%
  3. Orleans CountyBest mid July · 258 checklists that week, 16,706 in all25%
  4. Wayne CountyBest early August · 664 checklists that week, 37,738 in all20%
  5. Chautauqua CountyBest late July · 791 checklists that week, 35,772 in all18%
  6. Monroe CountyBest early August · 2025 checklists that week, 166,009 in all16%

Common questions

When do purple martins arrive in New York?
Purple Martins reach New York in the second week of April, are common by mid April, peak in early August (6.3% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.
When do purple martins leave New York?
Most Purple Martins have left New York 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 New York?
The Purple Martin is reported most often in early August, on about 6.3% of New York checklists.