WhenToBird

6 swallow species in Arizona

When Do Swallows Arrive in Arizona?

Adult Barn Swallow
Photo: Diego González Dopico, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Barn Swallows, Violet-green Swallows, and Cliff Swallows are the swallows you are most likely to see in Arizona. Barn Swallows reach Arizona in the second week of March, are common by early April, peak in mid September (14% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 8-14the second week of March
Common byApr 1-7early April
PeakSep 15-21mid September
Most gone byOct 15-21mid October

Best: mid September. First arrivals the second week of March; most are gone by mid October. Peak: on about 14% of Arizona checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Maruncommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maycommon
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novrare
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Swallows in Arizona, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Barn SwallowMar 8-14Apr 1-7Sep 15-21Oct 15-2114%
Violet-green SwallowFeb 8-14Feb 22-28Jun 8-14Oct 22-3112%
Cliff SwallowFeb 15-21Mar 8-14Jun 22-30Sep 1-77.9%
Purple MartinMay 1-7May 22-31Jul 8-14Sep 15-215.6%
Tree SwallowJan 15-21Jan 22-31Mar 8-14May 8-144.6%
Bank SwallowJul 22-31Jul 22-31Sep 1-7Oct 1-73.2%
0%5%10%15%Barn SwallowViolet-green SwallowCliff SwallowPurple MartinJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Barn Swallow
  • Violet-green Swallow
  • Cliff Swallow
  • 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 Arizona 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 Arizona

Best counties for Barn Swallow

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Navajo CountyBest mid August · 493 checklists that week, 18,838 in all33%
  2. Greenlee CountyBest late September · 49 checklists that week, 2,745 in all30%
  3. Apache CountyBest late August · 468 checklists that week, 12,931 in all29%
  4. La Paz CountyBest the second week of October · 79 checklists that week, 7,279 in all25%
  5. Santa Cruz CountyBest the second week of September · 1780 checklists that week, 162,726 in all23%
  6. Yuma CountyBest the second week of October · 234 checklists that week, 14,687 in all23%

All swallows in Arizona

7 species are reported regularly: 6 are summer visitors and 1 are winter visitors.

#SpeciesPatternThrough the yearFirst arrivalsPeakPeak %
1Northern Rough-winged SwallowAll year, most in springFeb 15-21Mar 15-2116%
2Barn SwallowSummer visitorMar 8-14Sep 15-2114%
3Violet-green SwallowSummer visitorFeb 8-14Jun 8-1412%
4Cliff SwallowSummer visitorFeb 15-21Jun 22-307.9%
5Purple MartinSummer visitorMay 1-7Jul 8-145.6%
6Tree SwallowWinter visitorJan 15-21Mar 8-144.6%
7Bank SwallowSummer visitorJul 22-31Sep 1-73.2%

Common questions

When do swallows arrive in Arizona?
Barn Swallows reach Arizona in the second week of March, are common by early April, peak in mid September (14% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October.
When do swallows leave Arizona?
Most Barn Swallows have left Arizona by mid October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early November.
When is the best time to see swallows in Arizona?
The Barn Swallow is reported most often in mid September, on about 14% of Arizona checklists.
Which swallows are in Arizona?
Barn Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, and Bank Swallow are reported regularly; the Barn Swallow is the most common.