How to attract northern rough-winged swallows to your yard
Northern Rough-winged Swallows respond to four things: the right food, the right plants, water and safe nesting cover. Here is what each means for this particular bird, drawn from its range across 55 states and provinces.
First: is it in your area, and when?
You can only attract a bird that passes through or lives near you, so start with timing. It arrives only to breed in 55, such as Alabama, Alberta, Arizona, Arkansas, British Columbia, California and 49 more, so set up before spring arrival.
Plant what northern rough-winged swallows use
These native plants are tied to the Northern Rough-winged Swallow in our regional plant lists (Audubon Native Plants and state sources). The count shows how many states or provinces list the plant for this bird — higher means it works across more of the range. Pick the ones native where you live.
| Plant | Type | States | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| American elderberry Sambucus canadensis | Shrub | 43 | Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species. |
| Black cherry Prunus serotina | Tree | 42 | Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees. |
| Serviceberry Amelanchier arborea | Tree | 38 | Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed. |
| White oak Quercus alba | Tree | 37 | Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food. |
| Arrowwood viburnum Viburnum dentatum | Shrub | 30 | Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover. |
| Flowering dogwood Cornus florida | Tree | 30 | Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers. |
| Spicebush Lindera benzoin | Shrub | 30 | Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants. |
| Bur oak Quercus macrocarpa | Tree | 29 | Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load. |
| New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae | Perennial | 28 | Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows. |
| Tall goldenrod Solidago altissima | Perennial | 26 | Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter. |
Your list covers 3 plant layers (shrub, tree, perennial). Layering matters: mixing shrub, tree, perennial gives northern rough-winged swallows food, perches and cover at different heights. Leave seed heads and fruit standing into winter instead of cutting back in fall.
Offer the food it actually eats
Flying insects caught low over water.
- Warm months
- Flies, midges, beetles and winged ants
- Cold months
- Migrates to Mexico and Central America
- At feeders
- None — open water and earth banks are the draw
Feeder style matters as much as food: shallow bird bath (1–2 in deep) is the first choice for this bird. Nests in drainpipes, culverts and bank holes rather than colonies; often the first swallow over a pond. Feeder guide →
Give it a place to nest
Natural site: Grass nest in a burrow, pipe or crevice near water.
It does not use nest boxes, so the way to host a nest is cover: keep dense native shrubs, vines or trees of the kind listed above, and avoid pruning them during the nesting season.
- Clutch
- 4–8 eggs
- Incubation
- 12–16 days
- Nestling period
- 19–21 days
- Broods per year
- 1–2 per season
Timing shifts with latitude: nesting begins around March in Alabama but not until May in Wyoming. Don't trim shrubs or clean boxes during those months.
Water, safety and patience
- A shallow bath (1–2 in deep) with a rough bottom, refreshed every 2–3 days; a dripper or heater makes it far more attractive in summer heat and winter freeze.
- Place feeders within 3 ft of windows or more than 30 ft away to cut window strikes, and keep cats indoors.
- Skip pesticides — most backyard birds feed insects to their nestlings, even seed-eaters.
- Give it time. New feeders and plantings can take days to weeks to be found; a summer breeder won't appear until it returns in spring.
Frequently asked
What attracts northern rough-winged swallows to a yard?
Food they actually eat (none — open water and earth banks are the draw), native plants such as American elderberry, Black cherry, Serviceberry, clean water and suitable nesting cover: grass nest in a burrow, pipe or crevice near water.
What plants attract northern rough-winged swallows?
Across the Northern Rough-winged Swallow's range, the native plants most often tied to it are American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), Black cherry (Prunus serotina), Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), White oak (Quercus alba), Arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum). Choose the ones native to your state.
When should I set up my yard for nesting northern rough-winged swallows?
Nesting starts around March in Alabama and as late as May in Wyoming. Have cover, water ready a month before.
Sources
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- 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.