WhenToBird

7 swallow species in South Dakota

When Do Swallows Arrive in South 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 South Dakota. Barn Swallows reach South Dakota in mid April, are common by early May, peak in the second week of August (37% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakAug 8-14the second week of August
Most gone bySep 8-14the second week of September

Best: the second week of August. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by the second week of September. Peak: on about 37% of South 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. Octrare
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Swallows in South Dakota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Barn SwallowApr 15-21May 1-7Aug 8-14Sep 8-1437%
Tree SwallowApr 1-7Apr 8-14May 8-14Aug 8-1424%
Cliff SwallowApr 22-30May 8-14Jul 1-7Aug 8-1422%
Violet-green SwallowMay 1-7May 22-31Jun 8-14Aug 1-712%
Purple MartinApr 8-14Apr 15-21Aug 1-7Aug 22-316.2%
Chimney SwiftApr 22-30May 1-7Aug 15-21Sep 1-75.4%
Bank SwallowApr 22-30May 1-7May 15-21Aug 22-315.3%
0%10%20%30%40%Barn SwallowTree SwallowCliff SwallowViolet-green SwallowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Barn Swallow
  • Tree Swallow
  • Cliff Swallow
  • Violet-green 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 South 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 South Dakota

Best counties for Barn Swallow

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Union CountyBest late July · 20 checklists that week, 882 in all71%
  2. Hutchinson CountyBest late June · 23 checklists that week, 420 in all70%
  3. Sanborn CountyBest early September · 15 checklists that week, 748 in all69%
  4. Aurora CountyBest early June · 13 checklists that week, 348 in all67%
  5. Yankton CountyBest the second week of August · 58 checklists that week, 3,895 in all66%
  6. Turner CountyBest the second week of August · 17 checklists that week, 462 in all66%

All swallows in South Dakota

7 species are reported regularly: 7 are summer visitors.

#SpeciesPatternThrough the yearFirst arrivalsPeakPeak %
1Barn SwallowSummer visitorApr 15-21Aug 8-1437%
2Tree SwallowSummer visitorApr 1-7May 8-1424%
3Cliff SwallowSummer visitorApr 22-30Jul 1-722%
4Violet-green SwallowSummer visitorMay 1-7Jun 8-1412%
5Northern Rough-winged SwallowSummer visitorApr 15-21May 15-218.0%
6Purple MartinSummer visitorApr 8-14Aug 1-76.2%
7Bank SwallowSummer visitorApr 22-30May 15-215.3%

Common questions

When do swallows arrive in South Dakota?
Barn Swallows reach South Dakota in mid April, are common by early May, peak in the second week of August (37% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September.
When do swallows leave South Dakota?
Most Barn Swallows have left South Dakota by the second week of 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 South Dakota?
The Barn Swallow is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 37% of South Dakota checklists.
Which swallows are in South Dakota?
Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Purple Martin, Chimney Swift, and Bank Swallow are reported regularly; the Barn Swallow is the most common.