WhenToBird

6 swallow species in Kansas

When Do Swallows Arrive in Kansas?

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

Barn Swallows, Purple Martins, and Tree Swallows are the swallows you are most likely to see in Kansas. Barn Swallows reach Kansas in early April, are common by mid April, peak in early August (38% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September.

When to look

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

Best: early August. First arrivals early April; most are gone by the second week of September. Peak: on about 38% of Kansas checklists.

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

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

Swallows in Kansas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Barn SwallowApr 1-7Apr 15-21Aug 1-7Sep 8-1438%
Purple MartinMar 15-21Apr 8-14Jul 15-21Aug 15-2120%
Tree SwallowMar 8-14Mar 15-21Apr 15-21Jul 1-716%
Chimney SwiftApr 15-21Apr 22-30May 22-31Oct 8-1416%
Cliff SwallowApr 8-14Apr 22-30Jul 1-7Aug 22-3114%
Bank SwallowJul 15-21Jul 15-21Aug 1-7Sep 15-212.9%
0%10%20%30%40%Barn SwallowPurple MartinTree SwallowChimney SwiftJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Barn Swallow
  • Purple Martin
  • Tree Swallow
  • 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 Kansas 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 Kansas

Best counties for Barn Swallow

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Mitchell CountyBest late July · 11 checklists that week, 739 in all76%
  2. Cloud CountyBest mid June · 10 checklists that week, 586 in all73%
  3. Chase CountyBest late July · 35 checklists that week, 2,235 in all70%
  4. Phillips CountyBest the second week of June · 10 checklists that week, 418 in all63%
  5. Kiowa CountyBest late June · 32 checklists that week, 1,540 in all60%
  6. Morris CountyBest mid August · 13 checklists that week, 556 in all60%

All swallows in Kansas

6 species are reported regularly: 6 are summer visitors.

#SpeciesPatternThrough the yearFirst arrivalsPeakPeak %
1Barn SwallowSummer visitorApr 1-7Aug 1-738%
2Purple MartinSummer visitorMar 15-21Jul 15-2120%
3Tree SwallowSummer visitorMar 8-14Apr 15-2116%
4Northern Rough-winged SwallowSummer visitorMar 15-21Apr 22-3015%
5Cliff SwallowSummer visitorApr 8-14Jul 1-714%
6Bank SwallowSummer visitorJul 15-21Aug 1-72.9%

Common questions

When do swallows arrive in Kansas?
Barn Swallows reach Kansas in early April, are common by mid April, peak in early August (38% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September.
When do swallows leave Kansas?
Most Barn Swallows have left Kansas by the second week of September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid October.
When is the best time to see swallows in Kansas?
The Barn Swallow is reported most often in early August, on about 38% of Kansas checklists.
Which swallows are in Kansas?
Barn Swallow, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Chimney Swift, Cliff Swallow, and Bank Swallow are reported regularly; the Barn Swallow is the most common.