WhenToBird

6 swallow species in Illinois

When Do Swallows Arrive in Illinois?

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

Barn Swallows, Tree Swallows, and Chimney Swifts are the swallows you are most likely to see in Illinois. Barn Swallows reach Illinois in the second week of April, are common by mid April, peak in the second week of August (42% of checklists), and most are gone by early September.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 8-14the second week of April
Common byApr 15-21mid April
PeakAug 8-14the second week of August
Most gone bySep 1-7early September

Best: the second week of August. First arrivals the second week of April; most are gone by early September. Peak: on about 42% of Illinois checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octrare
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Swallows in Illinois, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Barn SwallowApr 8-14Apr 15-21Aug 8-14Sep 1-742%
Tree SwallowMar 8-14Mar 22-31Apr 22-30Aug 8-1431%
Chimney SwiftApr 15-21May 1-7Aug 8-14Oct 8-1427%
Purple MartinApr 1-7Apr 15-21Aug 1-7Aug 22-3114%
Cliff SwallowApr 15-21May 1-7Jul 22-31Sep 1-77.1%
Bank SwallowApr 15-21Apr 22-30Jul 22-31Aug 22-316.8%
0%20%40%60%Barn SwallowTree SwallowChimney SwiftPurple MartinJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Barn Swallow
  • Tree Swallow
  • Chimney Swift
  • 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 Illinois 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 Illinois

Best counties for Barn Swallow

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Edwards CountyBest early July · 10 checklists that week, 797 in all75%
  2. Putnam CountyBest early August · 81 checklists that week, 3,333 in all70%
  3. Greene CountyBest the second week of June · 40 checklists that week, 329 in all69%
  4. Wayne CountyBest early August · 12 checklists that week, 394 in all69%
  5. Scott CountyBest mid June · 22 checklists that week, 320 in all68%
  6. Morgan CountyBest the second week of August · 10 checklists that week, 1,463 in all68%

All swallows in Illinois

6 species are reported regularly: 6 are summer visitors.

#SpeciesPatternThrough the yearFirst arrivalsPeakPeak %
1Barn SwallowSummer visitorApr 8-14Aug 8-1442%
2Tree SwallowSummer visitorMar 8-14Apr 22-3031%
3Northern Rough-winged SwallowSummer visitorApr 1-7May 8-1417%
4Purple MartinSummer visitorApr 1-7Aug 1-714%
5Cliff SwallowSummer visitorApr 15-21Jul 22-317.1%
6Bank SwallowSummer visitorApr 15-21Jul 22-316.8%

Common questions

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