WhenToBird

Purple Martin · Progne subis

When Do Purple Martins Arrive in Virginia?

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

Purple Martins reach Virginia in late March, are common by the second week of April, peak in mid July (11% of checklists), and most are gone by mid August.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 22-31late March
Common byApr 8-14the second week of April
PeakJul 15-21mid July
Most gone byAug 15-21mid August

Best: mid July. First arrivals late March; most are gone by mid August. Peak: on about 11% of Virginia checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Maruncommon
  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 Virginia, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Purple MartinMar 22-31Apr 8-14Jul 15-21Aug 15-2111%
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 Virginia 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 Virginia

Best counties for Purple Martin

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Norfolk CountyBest the second week of July · 307 checklists that week, 21,204 in all51%
  2. Clarke CountyBest mid July · 107 checklists that week, 8,388 in all43%
  3. Surry CountyBest late July · 135 checklists that week, 2,669 in all43%
  4. King William CountyBest the second week of August · 51 checklists that week, 2,070 in all40%
  5. Emporia CountyBest early July · 13 checklists that week, 295 in all39%
  6. Virginia Beach CountyBest mid July · 751 checklists that week, 70,485 in all39%

Common questions

When do purple martins arrive in Virginia?
Purple Martins reach Virginia in late March, are common by the second week of April, peak in mid July (11% of checklists), and most are gone by mid August.
When do purple martins leave Virginia?
Most Purple Martins have left Virginia by mid 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 Virginia?
The Purple Martin is reported most often in mid July, on about 11% of Virginia checklists.