WhenToBird

6 swallow species in New Jersey

When Do Swallows Arrive in New Jersey?

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 New Jersey. Barn Swallows reach New Jersey in early April, are common by late April, peak in early August (37% of checklists), and most are gone by early September.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 1-7early April
Common byApr 22-30late April
PeakAug 1-7early August
Most gone bySep 1-7early September

Best: early August. First arrivals early April; most are gone by early September. Peak: on about 37% of New Jersey checklists.

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

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

Swallows in New Jersey, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Barn SwallowApr 1-7Apr 22-30Aug 1-7Sep 1-737%
Tree SwallowMar 1-7Mar 15-21Jun 1-7Oct 22-3132%
Chimney SwiftApr 15-21Apr 22-30May 22-31Sep 15-2122%
Purple MartinApr 1-7Apr 15-21Jul 22-31Aug 22-3117%
Bank SwallowApr 22-30Apr 22-30Aug 1-7Sep 1-73.0%
Cliff SwallowApr 15-21Apr 15-21May 8-14Sep 1-71.1%
0%10%20%30%40%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 New Jersey 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 Jersey

Best counties for Barn Swallow

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Hudson CountyBest mid July · 316 checklists that week, 21,191 in all59%
  2. Bergen CountyBest late July · 1444 checklists that week, 73,457 in all52%
  3. Cumberland CountyBest early June · 199 checklists that week, 13,927 in all51%
  4. Salem CountyBest early July · 101 checklists that week, 9,658 in all49%
  5. Warren CountyBest the second week of August · 315 checklists that week, 20,077 in all47%
  6. Cape May CountyBest the second week of August · 2515 checklists that week, 189,832 in all45%

All swallows in New Jersey

6 species are reported regularly: 6 are summer visitors.

#SpeciesPatternThrough the yearFirst arrivalsPeakPeak %
1Barn SwallowSummer visitorApr 1-7Aug 1-737%
2Tree SwallowSummer visitorMar 1-7Jun 1-732%
3Purple MartinSummer visitorApr 1-7Jul 22-3117%
4Northern Rough-winged SwallowSummer visitorMar 22-31Apr 22-3013%
5Bank SwallowSummer visitorApr 22-30Aug 1-73.0%
6Cliff SwallowSummer visitorApr 15-21May 8-141.1%

Common questions

When do swallows arrive in New Jersey?
Barn Swallows reach New Jersey in early April, are common by late April, peak in early August (37% of checklists), and most are gone by early September.
When do swallows leave New Jersey?
Most Barn Swallows have left New Jersey 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 New Jersey?
The Barn Swallow is reported most often in early August, on about 37% of New Jersey checklists.
Which swallows are in New Jersey?
Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Chimney Swift, Purple Martin, Bank Swallow, and Cliff Swallow are reported regularly; the Barn Swallow is the most common.