How to attract tree swallows to your yard
Tree 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 60 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. The Tree Swallow is a year-round resident in 1 states and provinces, including California — there, a yard can host it in every season. It arrives only to breed in 52, such as Alaska, Alberta, Arizona, British Columbia, Colorado, Connecticut and 46 more, so set up before spring arrival. It is a winter visitor in 7, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and 1 more, where feeders and winter fruit matter most.
Plant what tree swallows use
These native plants are tied to the Tree 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 | 36 | 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 | 29 | Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers. |
| New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae | Perennial | 29 | Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows. |
| Spicebush Lindera benzoin | Shrub | 29 | Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants. |
| Bur oak Quercus macrocarpa | Tree | 28 | Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load. |
| Tall goldenrod Solidago altissima | Perennial | 27 | Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter. |
Your list covers 3 plant layers (shrub, tree, perennial). Layering matters: mixing shrub, tree, perennial gives tree 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; bayberries in cold snaps.
- Warm months
- Flies, mayflies and dragonflies
- Cold months
- Bayberry and wax myrtle fruit
- At feeders
- Crushed eggshells in spring
Feeder style matters as much as food: shallow bird bath (1–2 in deep) is the first choice for this bird. Tree swallows readily take bluebird-style nest boxes; mount boxes in pairs 15–25 ft apart to share with bluebirds. Feeder guide →
Give it a place to nest
Natural site: Nest box or tree cavity lined with feathers.
The Tree Swallow uses nest boxes with a 1 1/2 in entrance, mounted 5–10 ft. Exact box dimensions →
- Clutch
- 4–7 eggs
- Incubation
- 11–20 days
- Nestling period
- 15–25 days
- Broods per year
- 1 per season
Timing shifts with latitude: nesting begins around April in Arizona but not until June in Yukon. 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; residents usually find a stocked yard first.
Frequently asked
What attracts tree swallows to a yard?
Food they actually eat (crushed eggshells in spring), native plants such as American elderberry, Black cherry, Serviceberry, clean water and suitable nesting cover: nest box or tree cavity lined with feathers.
What plants attract tree swallows?
Across the Tree 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 tree swallows?
Nesting starts around April in Arizona and as late as June in Yukon. Have cover, water and nest boxes ready a month before.
Sources
- Tree Swallow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Tree Swallow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Tree Swallow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
- 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.