WhenToBird

5 swallow species in Alaska

When Do Swallows Arrive in Alaska?

Adult Tree Swallow
Photo: Carter Dorscht, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Tree Swallows, Violet-green Swallows, and Bank Swallows are the swallows you are most likely to see in Alaska. Tree Swallows reach Alaska in late April, are common by early May, peak in late May (23% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of July.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 22-30late April
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakMay 22-31late May
Most gone byJul 8-14the second week of July

Best: late May. First arrivals late April; most are gone by the second week of July. Peak: on about 23% of Alaska checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augrare
  9. Sepnot usually seen
  10. Octnot usually seen
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Swallows in Alaska, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Tree SwallowApr 22-30May 1-7May 22-31Jul 8-1423%
Violet-green SwallowApr 15-21May 1-7May 15-21Jul 15-2112%
Bank SwallowMay 15-21May 15-21Jun 1-7Aug 1-75.0%
Barn SwallowMay 8-14May 8-14Jul 22-31Aug 22-313.8%
Cliff SwallowMay 8-14May 15-21Jun 8-14Jul 22-313.1%
0%10%20%30%Tree SwallowViolet-green SwallowBank SwallowBarn SwallowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Tree Swallow
  • Violet-green Swallow
  • Bank Swallow
  • Barn Swallow
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 Alaska 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 Alaska

Best counties for Tree Swallow

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Dillingham Census AreaBest the second week of June · 42 checklists that week, 1,426 in all75%
  2. Bethel Census AreaBest early June · 128 checklists that week, 2,783 in all69%
  3. Bristol Bay BoroughBest mid June · 37 checklists that week, 980 in all57%
  4. Lake and Peninsula BoroughBest late May · 31 checklists that week, 1,172 in all47%
  5. Fairbanks North Star BoroughBest late May · 2038 checklists that week, 23,771 in all39%
  6. Kusilvak Census AreaBest the second week of June · 19 checklists that week, 573 in all36%

All swallows in Alaska

5 species are reported regularly: 5 are summer visitors.

#SpeciesPatternThrough the yearFirst arrivalsPeakPeak %
1Tree SwallowSummer visitorApr 22-30May 22-3123%
2Violet-green SwallowSummer visitorApr 15-21May 15-2112%
3Bank SwallowSummer visitorMay 15-21Jun 1-75.0%
4Barn SwallowSummer visitorMay 8-14Jul 22-313.8%
5Cliff SwallowSummer visitorMay 8-14Jun 8-143.1%

Common questions

When do swallows arrive in Alaska?
Tree Swallows reach Alaska in late April, are common by early May, peak in late May (23% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of July.
When do swallows leave Alaska?
Most Tree Swallows have left Alaska by the second week of July, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early August.
When is the best time to see swallows in Alaska?
The Tree Swallow is reported most often in late May, on about 23% of Alaska checklists.
Which swallows are in Alaska?
Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, and Cliff Swallow are reported regularly; the Tree Swallow is the most common.