How to attract violet-green swallows to your yard
Violet-green 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 16 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 16, such as Alaska, Alberta, Arizona, British Columbia, California, Colorado and 10 more, so set up before spring arrival.
Plant what violet-green swallows use
These native plants are tied to the Violet-green 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chokecherry Prunus virginiana | Shrub | 15 | Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load. |
| Rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa | Shrub | 13 | Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows. |
| Ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa | Tree | 12 | Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat. |
| Tall goldenrod Solidago altissima | Perennial | 12 | Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter. |
| Douglas fir Pseudotsuga menziesii | Tree | 9 | Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees. |
| Willow (Bebb) Salix bebbiana | Shrub | 9 | Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds. |
| Paper birch Betula papyrifera | Tree | 8 | Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter. |
| Gambel oak Quercus gambelii | Tree | 6 | Acorns for jays and woodpeckers across the southern Rockies. |
| Common hackberry Celtis occidentalis | Tree | 4 | Sweet dry fruit on the branch all winter. |
| Oregon white oak Quercus garryana | Tree | 4 | Acorns and a rich insect community in the Pacific Northwest. |
Your list covers 3 plant layers (shrub, tree, perennial). Layering matters: mixing shrub, tree, perennial gives violet-green 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 high over forests and water.
- Warm months
- Flies and midges
- Cold months
- Winters in Mexico
Give it a place to nest
Natural site: Cavity or nest box.
The Violet-green Swallow uses nest boxes with a 1 1/2 in entrance, mounted 8–15 ft. Exact box dimensions →
- Clutch
- 4–6 eggs
- Incubation
- 13–18 days
- Nestling period
- 16–24 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; a summer breeder won't appear until it returns in spring.
Frequently asked
What attracts violet-green swallows to a yard?
Food they actually eat (), native plants such as Chokecherry, Rabbitbrush, Ponderosa pine, clean water and suitable nesting cover: cavity or nest box.
What plants attract violet-green swallows?
Across the Violet-green Swallow's range, the native plants most often tied to it are Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa), Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), Tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Choose the ones native to your state.
When should I set up my yard for nesting violet-green 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
- 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
- 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.