When do swallows leave Maine?

Most Tree Swallows have left Maine by late July, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid September.

When is the best time to see swallows in Maine?

The Tree Swallow is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 23% of Maine checklists.

Which swallows are in Maine?

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

4 swallow species in Maine

When Do Swallows Arrive in Maine?

Photo: Carter Dorscht, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows, and Chimney Swifts are the swallows you are most likely to see in Maine. Tree Swallows reach Maine in late March, are common by the second week of April, peak in the second week of May (23% of checklists), and most are gone by late July.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 22-31late March

Common byApr 8-14the second week of April

PeakMay 8-14the second week of May

Most gone byJul 22-31late July

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals late March; most are gone by late July. Peak: on about 23% of Maine checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marrare
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julcommon
Auguncommon
Sepuncommon
Octnot usually seen
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

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

Swallows in Maine, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Tree Swallow	Mar 22-31	Apr 8-14	May 8-14	Jul 22-31	23%
Barn Swallow	Apr 15-21	Apr 22-30	Jul 15-21	Aug 22-31	12%
Chimney Swift	May 1-7	May 1-7	May 22-31	Aug 8-14	6.7%
Bank Swallow	May 8-14	May 8-14	Jul 15-21	Aug 22-31	1.6%

Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Chimney Swift
Bank 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 Maine 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 Maine

Best counties for Tree Swallow

Share of checklists at the peak

Penobscot CountyBest the second week of May · 1999 checklists that week, 56,895 in all36%
Kennebec CountyBest mid May · 1704 checklists that week, 48,185 in all33%
York CountyBest the second week of May · 3742 checklists that week, 101,844 in all32%
Lincoln CountyBest the second week of May · 1602 checklists that week, 59,429 in all31%
Aroostook CountyBest the second week of May · 439 checklists that week, 16,817 in all30%
Oxford CountyBest mid May · 637 checklists that week, 15,115 in all25%

All swallows in Maine

4 species are reported regularly: 4 are summer visitors.

#	Species	Pattern	First arrivals	Peak	Peak %
1	Tree Swallow	Summer visitor	Mar 22-31	May 8-14	23%
2	Barn Swallow	Summer visitor	Apr 15-21	Jul 15-21	12%
3	Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Summer visitor	Apr 15-21	May 1-7	2.0%
4	Bank Swallow	Summer visitor	May 8-14	Jul 15-21	1.6%

Common questions

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