When do swallows leave Rhode Island?

Most Barn Swallows have left Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?

The Barn Swallow is reported most often in mid July, on about 41% of Rhode Island checklists.

Which swallows are in Rhode Island?

Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Chimney Swift, Purple Martin, and Bank Swallow are reported regularly; the Barn Swallow is the most common.

5 swallow species in Rhode Island

When Do Swallows Arrive in Rhode Island?

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 Rhode Island. Barn Swallows reach Rhode Island in the second week of April, are common by early May, peak in mid July (41% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 8-14the second week of April

Common byMay 1-7early May

PeakJul 15-21mid July

Most gone byAug 22-31late August

Best: mid July. First arrivals the second week of April; most are gone by late August. Peak: on about 41% of Rhode Island checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marnot usually seen
Apruncommon
Maycommon
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Sepuncommon
Octnot usually seen
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

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

Swallows in Rhode Island, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Barn Swallow	Apr 8-14	May 1-7	Jul 15-21	Aug 22-31	41%
Tree Swallow	Mar 15-21	Apr 1-7	Jun 15-21	Sep 15-21	31%
Chimney Swift	Apr 15-21	May 1-7	May 22-31	Aug 22-31	24%
Purple Martin	Apr 8-14	May 8-14	Jul 22-31	Aug 15-21	11%
Bank Swallow	Apr 15-21	May 22-31	Jul 8-14	Aug 15-21	10%

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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island

Best counties for Barn Swallow

Share of checklists at the peak

Bristol CountyBest the second week of July · 263 checklists that week, 15,899 in all53%
Washington CountyBest the second week of July · 1072 checklists that week, 65,038 in all52%
Newport CountyBest late July · 708 checklists that week, 33,574 in all46%
Kent CountyBest late July · 383 checklists that week, 16,966 in all30%
Providence CountyBest the second week of July · 549 checklists that week, 40,898 in all18%

All swallows in Rhode Island

5 species are reported regularly: 5 are summer visitors.

#	Species	Pattern	First arrivals	Peak	Peak %
1	Barn Swallow	Summer visitor	Apr 8-14	Jul 15-21	41%
2	Tree Swallow	Summer visitor	Mar 15-21	Jun 15-21	31%
3	Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Summer visitor	Apr 1-7	Jun 22-30	12%
4	Purple Martin	Summer visitor	Apr 8-14	Jul 22-31	11%
5	Bank Swallow	Summer visitor	Apr 15-21	Jul 8-14	10%

Common questions

When do swallows arrive in Rhode Island?: Barn Swallows reach Rhode Island in the second week of April, are common by early May, peak in mid July (41% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.
When do swallows leave Rhode Island?: Most Barn Swallows have left Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?: The Barn Swallow is reported most often in mid July, on about 41% of Rhode Island checklists.
Which swallows are in Rhode Island?: Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Chimney Swift, Purple Martin, and Bank Swallow are reported regularly; the Barn Swallow is the most common.