WhenToBird

6 swallow species in Oklahoma

When Do Swallows Arrive in Oklahoma?

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

Barn Swallows, Cliff Swallows, and Purple Martins are the swallows you are most likely to see in Oklahoma. Barn Swallows reach Oklahoma in mid March, are common by early April, peak in the second week of May (26% of checklists), and most are gone by early September.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 15-21mid March
Common byApr 1-7early April
PeakMay 8-14the second week of May
Most gone bySep 1-7early September

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals mid March; most are gone by early September. Peak: on about 26% of Oklahoma checklists.

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

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

Swallows in Oklahoma, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Barn SwallowMar 15-21Apr 1-7May 8-14Sep 1-726%
Cliff SwallowMar 22-31Apr 8-14May 15-21Aug 1-717%
Purple MartinMar 8-14Mar 22-31Jul 8-14Aug 22-3115%
Chimney SwiftApr 8-14Apr 15-21May 22-31Oct 1-714%
Tree SwallowMar 15-21Mar 15-21Apr 8-14May 15-213.4%
Bank SwallowApr 8-14Apr 8-14May 8-14May 22-311.5%
0%10%20%30%Barn SwallowCliff SwallowPurple MartinChimney SwiftJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Barn Swallow
  • Cliff Swallow
  • Purple Martin
  • Chimney Swift
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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma

Best counties for Barn Swallow

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Cotton CountyBest the second week of July · 13 checklists that week, 765 in all63%
  2. McClain CountyBest the second week of August · 10 checklists that week, 1,112 in all62%
  3. Major CountyBest early July · 17 checklists that week, 631 in all61%
  4. Noble CountyBest the second week of August · 11 checklists that week, 1,320 in all59%
  5. Okmulgee CountyBest mid April · 28 checklists that week, 728 in all56%
  6. Garvin CountyBest the second week of June · 11 checklists that week, 521 in all55%

All swallows in Oklahoma

6 species are reported regularly: 6 are summer visitors.

#SpeciesPatternThrough the yearFirst arrivalsPeakPeak %
1Barn SwallowSummer visitorMar 15-21May 8-1426%
2Cliff SwallowSummer visitorMar 22-31May 15-2117%
3Purple MartinSummer visitorMar 8-14Jul 8-1415%
4Northern Rough-winged SwallowSummer visitorMar 15-21Apr 15-214.7%
5Tree SwallowSummer visitorMar 15-21Apr 8-143.4%
6Bank SwallowSummer visitorApr 8-14May 8-141.5%

Common questions

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