WhenToBird

Purple Martin · Progne subis

When Do Purple Martins Arrive in Texas?

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

Purple Martins reach Texas in mid February, are common by early March, peak in late June (21% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of August.

When to look

First arrivalsFeb 15-21mid February
Common byMar 1-7early March
PeakJun 22-30late June
Most gone byAug 8-14the second week of August

Best: late June. First arrivals mid February; most are gone by the second week of August. Peak: on about 21% of Texas checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febuncommon
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepuncommon
  10. Octrare
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Purple Martins in Texas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Purple MartinFeb 15-21Mar 1-7Jun 22-30Aug 8-1421%
0%10%20%30%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 Texas 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 Texas

Best counties for Purple Martin

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Duval CountyBest late May · 19 checklists that week, 1,580 in all77%
  2. Titus CountyBest the second week of July · 44 checklists that week, 2,638 in all73%
  3. DeWitt CountyBest the second week of May · 94 checklists that week, 4,050 in all69%
  4. Bee CountyBest the second week of April · 97 checklists that week, 4,609 in all67%
  5. Milam CountyBest late June · 64 checklists that week, 4,049 in all63%
  6. Clay CountyBest late June · 63 checklists that week, 3,189 in all47%

Common questions

When do purple martins arrive in Texas?
Purple Martins reach Texas in mid February, are common by early March, peak in late June (21% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of August.
When do purple martins leave Texas?
Most Purple Martins have left Texas by the second week of August, 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 Texas?
The Purple Martin is reported most often in late June, on about 21% of Texas checklists.