WhenToBird

6 swallow species in North Dakota

When Do Swallows Arrive in North Dakota?

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

Barn Swallows, Tree Swallows, and Cliff Swallows are the swallows you are most likely to see in North Dakota. Barn Swallows reach North Dakota in late April, are common by the second week of May, peak in mid August (34% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 22-30late April
Common byMay 8-14the second week of May
PeakAug 15-21mid August
Most gone bySep 15-21mid September

Best: mid August. First arrivals late April; most are gone by mid September. Peak: on about 34% of North Dakota checklists.

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

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

Swallows in North Dakota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Barn SwallowApr 22-30May 8-14Aug 15-21Sep 15-2134%
Tree SwallowApr 8-14Apr 22-30May 8-14Aug 1-729%
Cliff SwallowApr 22-30May 8-14Jul 1-7Aug 8-1418%
Purple MartinApr 15-21May 1-7Aug 1-7Aug 22-3111%
Bank SwallowApr 22-30May 8-14May 22-31Aug 22-3111%
Chimney SwiftMay 1-7May 8-14Aug 8-14Aug 22-317.8%
0%10%20%30%40%Barn SwallowTree SwallowCliff SwallowPurple MartinJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Barn Swallow
  • Tree Swallow
  • Cliff Swallow
  • 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota

Best counties for Barn Swallow

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Pierce CountyBest early September · 12 checklists that week, 403 in all66%
  2. Steele CountyBest the second week of June · 103 checklists that week, 6,291 in all65%
  3. Bottineau CountyBest late August · 96 checklists that week, 1,949 in all59%
  4. Sargent CountyBest late September · 22 checklists that week, 894 in all58%
  5. McLean CountyBest the second week of August · 17 checklists that week, 1,933 in all58%
  6. Traill CountyBest early September · 10 checklists that week, 764 in all57%

All swallows in North Dakota

6 species are reported regularly: 6 are summer visitors.

#SpeciesPatternThrough the yearFirst arrivalsPeakPeak %
1Barn SwallowSummer visitorApr 22-30Aug 15-2134%
2Tree SwallowSummer visitorApr 8-14May 8-1429%
3Cliff SwallowSummer visitorApr 22-30Jul 1-718%
4Purple MartinSummer visitorApr 15-21Aug 1-711%
5Bank SwallowSummer visitorApr 22-30May 22-3111%
6Northern Rough-winged SwallowSummer visitorApr 22-30May 22-316.2%

Common questions

When do swallows arrive in North Dakota?
Barn Swallows reach North Dakota in late April, are common by the second week of May, peak in mid August (34% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.
When do swallows leave North Dakota?
Most Barn Swallows have left North Dakota by mid September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early October.
When is the best time to see swallows in North Dakota?
The Barn Swallow is reported most often in mid August, on about 34% of North Dakota checklists.
Which swallows are in North Dakota?
Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Purple Martin, Bank Swallow, and Chimney Swift are reported regularly; the Barn Swallow is the most common.