When do violet-green swallows arrive in British Columbia?
The Violet-green Swallow is a summer breeder in British Columbia — here is when to expect it, when it leaves, and how to be ready.
Violet-green Swallow timing in British Columbia
- Arrives
- Around May
- Leaves
- By August
- Status here
- Summer breeder
- Nesting season
- June–July
- Present roughly
- May–August
In British Columbia, violet-green swallows are present through the warm months, arriving around May and heading south again by August.
These windows are set by latitude: British Columbia sits in the middle part of this species' range, so timing here runs later than the continental average — the season starts later this far north and the birds wait for it. In any given year, weather can move the first arrivals by a week or two either way.
Month by month in this state
Highlighted months are when violet-green swallows are expected in British Columbia. The edges of the window are the interesting weeks — first arrivals and last departures vary most from year to year.
Getting ready before they arrive
The week before May is the time to act. This species doesn't use feeders much, but water and cover matter — a clean birdbath and undisturbed shrubs make a yard far more attractive to a newly arrived bird.
Violet-green swallows nest in cavities, so boxes need to be up and cleaned before arrival — a box mounted after they've claimed territories will usually sit empty until next year. Violet-green Swallow nest box dimensions and mounting →
Once nesting begins around June, adults switch to protein-rich food for their young and visits to feeders become quick and purposeful. Expect the busiest activity at dawn.
What violet-green swallows eat while they're here
Native plants that hold violet-green swallows in British Columbia
Food keeps a migrant for a day; habitat keeps it for the season. These British Columbia-native plants are known to attract violet-green swallows:
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Acorns and a rich insect community in the Pacific Northwest.
Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees.
Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.
Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked
When do violet-green swallows arrive in British Columbia?
violet-green swallows typically arrive in British Columbia around May, with nesting underway by June. Timing can shift a week or two with the weather in any given year.
When do violet-green swallows leave British Columbia?
Most violet-green swallows have left British Columbia by August. They spend the winter farther south and return the following spring.
Do violet-green swallows stay in British Columbia all year?
No — in British Columbia the Violet-green Swallow is a summer breeder, present roughly May–August. Outside that window it is rarely seen in the state.
Sources
- Violet-green Swallow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Violet-green Swallow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Violet-green Swallow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
- eBird region overview and bar charts — British Columbia
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.