When do swallows leave West Virginia?

Most Barn Swallows have left West Virginia 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 West Virginia?

The Barn Swallow is reported most often in late July, on about 30% of West Virginia checklists.

Which swallows are in West Virginia?

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

5 swallow species in West Virginia

When Do Swallows Arrive in West Virginia?

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 West Virginia. Barn Swallows reach West Virginia in early April, are common by mid April, peak in late July (30% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 1-7early April

Common byApr 15-21mid April

PeakJul 22-31late July

Most gone byAug 22-31late August

Best: late July. First arrivals early April; most are gone by late August. Peak: on about 30% of West Virginia checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marrare
Aprcommon
Maypeak season
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 West Virginia, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Barn Swallow	Apr 1-7	Apr 15-21	Jul 22-31	Aug 22-31	30%
Tree Swallow	Mar 1-7	Mar 15-21	Apr 22-30	Jul 15-21	24%
Chimney Swift	Apr 15-21	Apr 22-30	May 22-31	Oct 1-7	19%
Purple Martin	Apr 8-14	Apr 15-21	Jul 15-21	Aug 8-14	6.4%
Cliff Swallow	Apr 15-21	Apr 22-30	Jul 1-7	Aug 8-14	3.1%

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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia

Best counties for Barn Swallow

Share of checklists at the peak

Mineral CountyBest the second week of June · 45 checklists that week, 2,389 in all73%
Wetzel CountyBest early May · 35 checklists that week, 1,196 in all72%
Preston CountyBest late July · 358 checklists that week, 16,305 in all67%
Jackson CountyBest late July · 30 checklists that week, 1,317 in all63%
Monroe CountyBest early August · 18 checklists that week, 1,298 in all52%
Grant CountyBest early August · 63 checklists that week, 3,867 in all51%

All swallows in West Virginia

5 species are reported regularly: 5 are summer visitors.

#	Species	Pattern	First arrivals	Peak	Peak %
1	Barn Swallow	Summer visitor	Apr 1-7	Jul 22-31	30%
2	Tree Swallow	Summer visitor	Mar 1-7	Apr 22-30	24%
3	Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Summer visitor	Mar 22-31	May 1-7	14%
4	Purple Martin	Summer visitor	Apr 8-14	Jul 15-21	6.4%
5	Cliff Swallow	Summer visitor	Apr 15-21	Jul 1-7	3.1%

Common questions

When do swallows arrive in West Virginia?: Barn Swallows reach West Virginia in early April, are common by mid April, peak in late July (30% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.
When do swallows leave West Virginia?: Most Barn Swallows have left West Virginia 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 West Virginia?: The Barn Swallow is reported most often in late July, on about 30% of West Virginia checklists.
Which swallows are in West Virginia?: Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Chimney Swift, Purple Martin, and Cliff Swallow are reported regularly; the Barn Swallow is the most common.