WhenToBird

Purple Martin · Progne subis

When Do Purple Martins Arrive in Ohio?

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

Purple Martins reach Ohio in late March, are common by mid April, peak in late July (18% 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 18% of Ohio 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 Ohio, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Purple MartinMar 22-31Apr 15-21Jul 22-31Aug 22-3118%
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 Ohio 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 Ohio

Best counties for Purple Martin

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Ottawa CountyBest late July · 645 checklists that week, 51,024 in all50%
  2. Perry CountyBest late August · 149 checklists that week, 6,489 in all41%
  3. Lorain CountyBest early August · 876 checklists that week, 59,913 in all38%
  4. Paulding CountyBest the second week of July · 29 checklists that week, 1,653 in all37%
  5. Noble CountyBest the second week of July · 15 checklists that week, 1,516 in all36%
  6. Logan CountyBest early August · 168 checklists that week, 10,014 in all35%

Common questions

When do purple martins arrive in Ohio?
Purple Martins reach Ohio in late March, are common by mid April, peak in late July (18% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.
When do purple martins leave Ohio?
Most Purple Martins have left Ohio 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 Ohio?
The Purple Martin is reported most often in late July, on about 18% of Ohio checklists.