Barn Swallows in Maine
When barn swallows are present in Maine, when they nest, which native Maine plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–6b yard.
- Status in Maine
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–6b
When to expect barn swallows in Maine
Barn Swallows are summer residents in Maine, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on flies, beetles and moths.
Humid continental with a long, rocky Atlantic coast and extensive northern spruce-fir forest.
Nesting in Maine
Across Maine, barn swallows typically nest from June–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.
Cool, short summers; many songbirds do not begin nesting until late May.
- Barn Swallows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as serviceberry, white oak, bur oak for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Maine plants that attract barn swallows
Of the regional native plants we track for Maine, these 8 provide food or cover barn swallows use:
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.
Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.
Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Feeding barn swallows through the Maine year
Barn swallows nest on ledges under eaves and in barns; an open-front ledge shelf gives them a site.
- Best foods: .
- In Maine's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are barn swallows in Maine year-round?
No. Barn Swallows are summer breeders in Maine and leave for the winter.
When do barn swallows nest in Maine?
Nesting in Maine typically runs June–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 3–7 eggs, incubated for 12–17 days.
What native plants attract barn swallows in Maine?
Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in Maine that provide food or cover for barn swallows.
Barn Swallows in other regions
Other backyard birds in Maine
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 — Maine
- 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.