WhenToBird

6 swallow species in New York

When Do Swallows Arrive in New York?

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 York. Barn Swallows reach New York in the second week of April, are common by late April, peak in early August (31% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 8-14the second week of April
Common byApr 22-30late April
PeakAug 1-7early August
Most gone byAug 22-31late August

Best: early August. First arrivals the second week of April; most are gone by late August. Peak: on about 31% of New York 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. 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 York, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Barn SwallowApr 8-14Apr 22-30Aug 1-7Aug 22-3131%
Tree SwallowMar 15-21Apr 1-7May 15-21Aug 15-2127%
Chimney SwiftApr 15-21Apr 22-30May 22-31Sep 22-3015%
Purple MartinApr 8-14Apr 15-21Aug 1-7Aug 22-316.3%
Bank SwallowApr 22-30May 1-7Jul 22-31Aug 22-314.1%
Cliff SwallowApr 22-30Apr 22-30Jul 8-14Aug 15-211.1%
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 York 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 York

Best counties for Barn Swallow

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Seneca CountyBest mid July · 808 checklists that week, 47,387 in all56%
  2. Richmond CountyBest early August · 932 checklists that week, 55,926 in all54%
  3. Wayne CountyBest late July · 823 checklists that week, 37,738 in all52%
  4. Kings CountyBest early August · 1454 checklists that week, 134,897 in all52%
  5. Queens CountyBest mid July · 1071 checklists that week, 76,201 in all51%
  6. Niagara CountyBest early August · 485 checklists that week, 28,936 in all49%

All swallows in New York

6 species are reported regularly: 6 are summer visitors.

#SpeciesPatternThrough the yearFirst arrivalsPeakPeak %
1Barn SwallowSummer visitorApr 8-14Aug 1-731%
2Tree SwallowSummer visitorMar 15-21May 15-2127%
3Northern Rough-winged SwallowSummer visitorApr 1-7May 1-77.8%
4Purple MartinSummer visitorApr 8-14Aug 1-76.3%
5Bank SwallowSummer visitorApr 22-30Jul 22-314.1%
6Cliff SwallowSummer visitorApr 22-30Jul 8-141.1%

Common questions

When do swallows arrive in New York?
Barn Swallows reach New York in the second week of April, are common by late April, peak in early August (31% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.
When do swallows leave New York?
Most Barn Swallows have left New York by late 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 York?
The Barn Swallow is reported most often in early August, on about 31% of New York checklists.
Which swallows are in New York?
Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Chimney Swift, Purple Martin, Bank Swallow, and Cliff Swallow are reported regularly; the Barn Swallow is the most common.