WhenToBird

5 swallow species in New Hampshire

When Do Swallows Arrive in New Hampshire?

Adult Tree Swallow
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 New Hampshire. Tree Swallows reach New Hampshire in late March, are common by the second week of April, peak in the second week of May (28% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of August.

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 byAug 8-14the second week of August

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals late March; most are gone by the second week of August. Peak: on about 28% of New Hampshire checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Maruncommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepuncommon
  10. Octnot usually seen
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Swallows in New Hampshire, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Tree SwallowMar 22-31Apr 8-14May 8-14Aug 8-1428%
Barn SwallowApr 8-14Apr 22-30Aug 1-7Sep 1-714%
Chimney SwiftApr 22-30May 1-7Jun 1-7Aug 22-3112%
Bank SwallowMay 1-7May 1-7Jul 15-21Aug 15-212.6%
Cliff SwallowMay 1-7May 1-7Jun 8-14Jul 22-311.2%
0%10%20%30%Tree SwallowBarn SwallowChimney SwiftBank SwallowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • 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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire

Best counties for Tree Swallow

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Hillsborough CountyBest mid May · 1647 checklists that week, 50,125 in all33%
  2. Carroll CountyBest the second week of May · 1100 checklists that week, 30,580 in all31%
  3. Sullivan CountyBest the second week of May · 482 checklists that week, 13,105 in all30%
  4. Coos CountyBest mid May · 795 checklists that week, 27,719 in all30%
  5. Cheshire CountyBest the second week of May · 1456 checklists that week, 39,834 in all29%
  6. Merrimack CountyBest early May · 1495 checklists that week, 36,980 in all29%

All swallows in New Hampshire

5 species are reported regularly: 5 are summer visitors.

#SpeciesPatternThrough the yearFirst arrivalsPeakPeak %
1Tree SwallowSummer visitorMar 22-31May 8-1428%
2Barn SwallowSummer visitorApr 8-14Aug 1-714%
3Northern Rough-winged SwallowSummer visitorApr 8-14May 1-74.8%
4Bank SwallowSummer visitorMay 1-7Jul 15-212.6%
5Cliff SwallowSummer visitorMay 1-7Jun 8-141.2%

Common questions

When do swallows arrive in New Hampshire?
Tree Swallows reach New Hampshire in late March, are common by the second week of April, peak in the second week of May (28% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of August.
When do swallows leave New Hampshire?
Most Tree Swallows have left New Hampshire by the second week of 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 New Hampshire?
The Tree Swallow is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 28% of New Hampshire checklists.
Which swallows are in New Hampshire?
Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Chimney Swift, Bank Swallow, and Cliff Swallow are reported regularly; the Tree Swallow is the most common.