WhenToBird

6 swallow species in New Mexico

When Do Swallows Arrive in New Mexico?

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

Barn Swallows, Violet-green Swallows, and Cliff Swallows are the swallows you are most likely to see in New Mexico. Barn Swallows reach New Mexico in mid March, are common by the second week of April, peak in late August (26% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 15-21mid March
Common byApr 8-14the second week of April
PeakAug 22-31late August
Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: late August. First arrivals mid March; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 26% of New Mexico checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Maruncommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Swallows in New Mexico, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Barn SwallowMar 15-21Apr 8-14Aug 22-31Oct 1-726%
Violet-green SwallowMar 15-21Apr 8-14Jun 22-30Sep 1-719%
Cliff SwallowMar 15-21Apr 8-14Jun 15-21Aug 22-3113%
Tree SwallowFeb 22-28Feb 22-28Apr 15-21Sep 15-213.9%
Bank SwallowApr 8-14Apr 8-14May 1-7Sep 15-213.9%
Purple MartinMay 1-7May 1-7Jul 15-21Aug 8-141.0%
0%10%20%30%Barn SwallowViolet-green SwallowCliff SwallowTree SwallowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Barn Swallow
  • Violet-green Swallow
  • Cliff Swallow
  • Tree 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 Mexico 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 Mexico

Best counties for Barn Swallow

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Curry CountyBest the second week of August · 53 checklists that week, 2,926 in all71%
  2. Lea CountyBest mid August · 49 checklists that week, 2,698 in all67%
  3. De Baca CountyBest late July · 15 checklists that week, 2,203 in all65%
  4. Valencia CountyBest early September · 148 checklists that week, 8,351 in all63%
  5. Roosevelt CountyBest early May · 275 checklists that week, 4,563 in all59%
  6. Guadalupe CountyBest mid May · 109 checklists that week, 2,614 in all55%

All swallows in New Mexico

7 species are reported regularly: 7 are summer visitors.

#SpeciesPatternThrough the yearFirst arrivalsPeakPeak %
1Barn SwallowSummer visitorMar 15-21Aug 22-3126%
2Violet-green SwallowSummer visitorMar 15-21Jun 22-3019%
3Cliff SwallowSummer visitorMar 15-21Jun 15-2113%
4Northern Rough-winged SwallowSummer visitorFeb 22-28Apr 22-3011%
5Tree SwallowSummer visitorFeb 22-28Apr 15-213.9%
6Bank SwallowSummer visitorApr 8-14May 1-73.9%
7Purple MartinSummer visitorMay 1-7Jul 15-211.0%

Common questions

When do swallows arrive in New Mexico?
Barn Swallows reach New Mexico in mid March, are common by the second week of April, peak in late August (26% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.
When do swallows leave New Mexico?
Most Barn Swallows have left New Mexico by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid October.
When is the best time to see swallows in New Mexico?
The Barn Swallow is reported most often in late August, on about 26% of New Mexico checklists.
Which swallows are in New Mexico?
Barn Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Tree Swallow, Bank Swallow, and Purple Martin are reported regularly; the Barn Swallow is the most common.