WhenToBird

6 swallow species in Arkansas

When Do Swallows Arrive in Arkansas?

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

Barn Swallows, Chimney Swifts, and Purple Martins are the swallows you are most likely to see in Arkansas. Barn Swallows reach Arkansas in the second week of March, are common by late March, peak in mid July (23% of checklists), and most are gone by mid August.

When to look

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

Best: mid July. First arrivals the second week of March; most are gone by mid August. Peak: on about 23% of Arkansas checklists.

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

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

Swallows in Arkansas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Barn SwallowMar 8-14Mar 22-31Jul 15-21Aug 15-2123%
Chimney SwiftApr 1-7Apr 8-14May 8-14Oct 1-714%
Purple MartinMar 1-7Mar 15-21Jul 8-14Aug 15-2114%
Tree SwallowMar 1-7Mar 8-14Apr 8-14Jul 22-319.4%
Cliff SwallowMar 22-31Apr 1-7May 8-14Aug 15-217.0%
Bank SwallowJul 15-21Jul 15-21Aug 15-21Sep 15-211.2%
0%10%20%30%Barn SwallowChimney SwiftPurple MartinTree SwallowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Barn Swallow
  • Chimney Swift
  • Purple Martin
  • Tree 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas

Best counties for Barn Swallow

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Drew CountyBest mid May · 19 checklists that week, 720 in all69%
  2. Poinsett CountyBest early August · 11 checklists that week, 661 in all67%
  3. Sebastian CountyBest mid July · 51 checklists that week, 4,415 in all65%
  4. Izard CountyBest mid July · 10 checklists that week, 788 in all61%
  5. Woodruff CountyBest late April · 17 checklists that week, 377 in all60%
  6. Randolph CountyBest the second week of July · 13 checklists that week, 588 in all56%

All swallows in Arkansas

6 species are reported regularly: 6 are summer visitors.

#SpeciesPatternThrough the yearFirst arrivalsPeakPeak %
1Barn SwallowSummer visitorMar 8-14Jul 15-2123%
2Purple MartinSummer visitorMar 1-7Jul 8-1414%
3Tree SwallowSummer visitorMar 1-7Apr 8-149.4%
4Northern Rough-winged SwallowSummer visitorMar 8-14Apr 22-309.1%
5Cliff SwallowSummer visitorMar 22-31May 8-147.0%
6Bank SwallowSummer visitorJul 15-21Aug 15-211.2%

Common questions

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