When do cliff swallows arrive in Newfoundland and Labrador?
The Cliff Swallow is a summer breeder in Newfoundland and Labrador — here is when to expect it, when it leaves, and how to be ready.
Cliff Swallow timing in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Arrives
- Around May
- Leaves
- By August
- Status here
- Summer breeder
- Nesting season
- June–July
- Present roughly
- May–August
In Newfoundland and Labrador, cliff swallows are present through the warm months, arriving around May and heading south again by August.
These windows are set by latitude: Newfoundland and Labrador 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 cliff swallows are expected in Newfoundland and Labrador. 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. Have feeders cleaned, filled and out by early May — the first cliff swallows into Newfoundland and Labrador are scouting for reliable food, and a station that's ready early gets added to their route.
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 cliff swallows eat while they're here
- Flies, beetles, bees and winged ants
Builds mud jug nests in dense colonies under bridges and eaves; leave a mud puddle nearby in spring.
Full Cliff Swallow diet guide → · Best feeder for cliff swallows →
Native plants that hold cliff swallows in Newfoundland and Labrador
Food keeps a migrant for a day; habitat keeps it for the season. These Newfoundland and Labrador-native plants are known to attract cliff swallows:
Seed-rich cones and year-round shelter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Spruce-budworm habitat and dense winter roosting cover.
Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.
Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked
When do cliff swallows arrive in Newfoundland and Labrador?
cliff swallows typically arrive in Newfoundland and Labrador around May, with nesting underway by June. Timing can shift a week or two with the weather in any given year.
When do cliff swallows leave Newfoundland and Labrador?
Most cliff swallows have left Newfoundland and Labrador by August. They spend the winter farther south and return the following spring.
Do cliff swallows stay in Newfoundland and Labrador all year?
No — in Newfoundland and Labrador the Cliff Swallow is a summer breeder, present roughly May–August. Outside that window it is rarely seen in the state.
What should I put out before cliff swallows arrive in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Have feeders up and clean by early May — first arrivals scout reliable food sources. Good offerings for this species: flies, beetles, bees and winged ants.
Sources
- Cliff Swallow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Cliff Swallow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Cliff Swallow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Newfoundland and Labrador
- 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.