WhenToBird

6 swallow species in Oregon

When Do Swallows Arrive in Oregon?

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

Barn Swallows, Tree Swallows, and Violet-green Swallows are the swallows you are most likely to see in Oregon. Barn Swallows reach Oregon in late March, are common by mid April, peak in mid August (31% of checklists), and most are gone by late September.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 22-31late March
Common byApr 15-21mid April
PeakAug 15-21mid August
Most gone bySep 22-30late September

Best: mid August. First arrivals late March; most are gone by late September. Peak: on about 31% of Oregon checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marrare
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  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 Oregon, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Barn SwallowMar 22-31Apr 15-21Aug 15-21Sep 22-3031%
Tree SwallowFeb 15-21Mar 8-14May 8-14Jul 22-3127%
Violet-green SwallowFeb 22-28Mar 15-21May 8-14Sep 1-726%
Cliff SwallowMar 22-31Apr 15-21May 22-31Aug 8-1412%
Purple MartinApr 8-14Apr 15-21Aug 8-14Sep 1-77.6%
Bank SwallowMay 1-7May 1-7Aug 8-14Sep 1-72.1%
0%10%20%30%40%Barn SwallowTree SwallowViolet-green SwallowCliff SwallowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Barn Swallow
  • Tree Swallow
  • Violet-green Swallow
  • Cliff 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 Oregon 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 Oregon

Best counties for Barn Swallow

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Gilliam CountyBest late August · 41 checklists that week, 2,323 in all59%
  2. Morrow CountyBest mid July · 41 checklists that week, 3,484 in all57%
  3. Tillamook CountyBest the second week of August · 1038 checklists that week, 45,809 in all53%
  4. Clatsop CountyBest early June · 848 checklists that week, 44,300 in all52%
  5. Columbia CountyBest late August · 623 checklists that week, 27,750 in all48%
  6. Polk CountyBest the second week of September · 340 checklists that week, 29,096 in all47%

All swallows in Oregon

7 species are reported regularly: 7 are summer visitors.

#SpeciesPatternThrough the yearFirst arrivalsPeakPeak %
1Barn SwallowSummer visitorMar 22-31Aug 15-2131%
2Tree SwallowSummer visitorFeb 15-21May 8-1427%
3Violet-green SwallowSummer visitorFeb 22-28May 8-1426%
4Cliff SwallowSummer visitorMar 22-31May 22-3112%
5Purple MartinSummer visitorApr 8-14Aug 8-147.6%
6Northern Rough-winged SwallowSummer visitorApr 1-7May 8-145.6%
7Bank SwallowSummer visitorMay 1-7Aug 8-142.1%

Common questions

When do swallows arrive in Oregon?
Barn Swallows reach Oregon in late March, are common by mid April, peak in mid August (31% of checklists), and most are gone by late September.
When do swallows leave Oregon?
Most Barn Swallows have left Oregon by late September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of October.
When is the best time to see swallows in Oregon?
The Barn Swallow is reported most often in mid August, on about 31% of Oregon checklists.
Which swallows are in Oregon?
Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Purple Martin, and Bank Swallow are reported regularly; the Barn Swallow is the most common.