When do swallows leave Delaware?

Most Barn Swallows have left Delaware by late August, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of September.

When is the best time to see swallows in Delaware?

The Barn Swallow is reported most often in mid July, on about 42% of Delaware checklists.

Which swallows are in Delaware?

Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Purple Martin, Chimney Swift, and Bank Swallow are reported regularly; the Barn Swallow is the most common.

5 swallow species in Delaware

When Do Swallows Arrive in Delaware?

Photo: Diego González Dopico, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Barn Swallows, Tree Swallows, and Purple Martins are the swallows you are most likely to see in Delaware. Barn Swallows reach Delaware in the second week of April, are common by late April, peak in mid July (42% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 8-14the second week of April

Common byApr 22-30late April

PeakJul 15-21mid July

Most gone byAug 22-31late August

Best: mid July. First arrivals the second week of April; most are gone by late August. Peak: on about 42% of Delaware checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marnot usually seen
Aprcommon
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Sepuncommon
Octnot usually seen
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

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

Swallows in Delaware, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Barn Swallow	Apr 8-14	Apr 22-30	Jul 15-21	Aug 22-31	42%
Tree Swallow	Mar 1-7	Mar 15-21	May 15-21	Oct 22-31	37%
Purple Martin	Mar 22-31	Apr 15-21	Jul 22-31	Aug 15-21	36%
Chimney Swift	Apr 8-14	Apr 22-30	Jun 1-7	Oct 1-7	15%
Bank Swallow	Jun 22-30	Jul 1-7	Jul 22-31	Aug 22-31	7.3%

Barn Swallow
Tree Swallow
Purple Martin
Chimney Swift

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 Delaware 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 Delaware

Best counties for Barn Swallow

Share of checklists at the peak

Kent CountyBest mid July · 735 checklists that week, 36,693 in all46%
Sussex CountyBest early August · 1800 checklists that week, 91,027 in all46%
New Castle CountyBest early August · 904 checklists that week, 72,140 in all36%

All swallows in Delaware

5 species are reported regularly: 4 are summer visitors and 1 mostly pass through.

#	Species	Pattern	First arrivals	Peak	Peak %
1	Barn Swallow	Summer visitor	Apr 8-14	Jul 15-21	42%
2	Tree Swallow	Summer visitor	Mar 1-7	May 15-21	37%
3	Purple Martin	Summer visitor	Mar 22-31	Jul 22-31	36%
4	Bank Swallow	Passes through	Jun 22-30	Jul 22-31	7.3%
5	Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Summer visitor	Mar 22-31	Apr 22-30	6.6%

Common questions

When do swallows arrive in Delaware?: Barn Swallows reach Delaware in the second week of April, are common by late April, peak in mid July (42% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.
When do swallows leave Delaware?: Most Barn Swallows have left Delaware by late August, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of September.
When is the best time to see swallows in Delaware?: The Barn Swallow is reported most often in mid July, on about 42% of Delaware checklists.
Which swallows are in Delaware?: Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Purple Martin, Chimney Swift, and Bank Swallow are reported regularly; the Barn Swallow is the most common.