When do cliff swallows arrive in Washington?
The Cliff Swallow is a summer breeder in Washington — here is when to expect it, when it leaves, and how to be ready.
Cliff Swallow timing in Washington
- Arrives
- Around April
- Leaves
- By August
- Status here
- Summer breeder
- Nesting season
- May–July
- Present roughly
- April–August
In Washington, cliff swallows are present through the warm months, arriving around April and heading south again by August.
These windows are set by latitude: Washington sits in the middle part of this species' range, so timing here tracks the continental average closely. 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 Washington. 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 April is the time to act. Have feeders cleaned, filled and out by early April — the first cliff swallows into Washington are scouting for reliable food, and a station that's ready early gets added to their route.
Once nesting begins around May, 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 Washington
Food keeps a migrant for a day; habitat keeps it for the season. These Washington-native plants are known to attract cliff swallows:
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
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.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked
When do cliff swallows arrive in Washington?
cliff swallows typically arrive in Washington around April, with nesting underway by May. Timing can shift a week or two with the weather in any given year.
When do cliff swallows leave Washington?
Most cliff swallows have left Washington by August. They spend the winter farther south and return the following spring.
Do cliff swallows stay in Washington all year?
No — in Washington the Cliff Swallow is a summer breeder, present roughly April–August. Outside that window it is rarely seen in the state.
What should I put out before cliff swallows arrive in Washington?
Have feeders up and clean by early April — 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 — Washington
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- 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.