Barn Swallows in Kansas
When barn swallows are present in Kansas, when they nest, which native Kansas plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5b–7a yard.
- Status in Kansas
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5b–7a
When to expect barn swallows in Kansas
Barn Swallows are summer residents in Kansas, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on flies, beetles and moths.
Continental — humid tallgrass Flint Hills in the east to semi-arid shortgrass prairie in the west.
Nesting in Kansas
Across Kansas, barn swallows typically nest from May–July. Nest site: mud cup on beams and ledges under shelter. Females lay 3–7 eggs, incubate for 12–17 days, and young leave the nest after 15–27 days.
Hot summers above 95°F; western Kansas is dry, so water draws birds from far away.
- Barn Swallows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as flowering dogwood, serviceberry, white oak for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Kansas plants that attract barn swallows
Of the regional native plants we track for Kansas, these 8 provide food or cover barn swallows use:
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Feeding barn swallows through the Kansas year
Barn swallows nest on ledges under eaves and in barns; an open-front ledge shelf gives them a site.
- Best foods: .
- In Kansas's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are barn swallows in Kansas year-round?
No. Barn Swallows are summer breeders in Kansas and leave for the winter.
When do barn swallows nest in Kansas?
Nesting in Kansas typically runs May–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 3–7 eggs, incubated for 12–17 days.
What native plants attract barn swallows in Kansas?
Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in Kansas that provide food or cover for barn swallows.
Barn Swallows in other regions
Other backyard birds in Kansas
Sources
- Barn Swallow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Barn Swallow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Barn Swallow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Kansas
- 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.