Barn Swallows in Prince Edward Island
When barn swallows are present in Prince Edward Island, when they nest, which native Prince Edward Island plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 4b–5b yard.
- Status in Prince Edward Island
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 4b–5b
When to expect barn swallows in Prince Edward Island
Barn Swallows are summer residents in Prince Edward Island, 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 moderated by the Gulf of St. Lawrence; mostly farmland and mixed woods.
Nesting in Prince Edward Island
Across Prince Edward Island, 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.
Mild summers.
- Barn Swallows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as eastern white pine, paper birch, sugar maple for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Prince Edward Island plants that attract barn swallows
Of the regional native plants we track for Prince Edward Island, these 8 provide food or cover barn swallows use:
Seed-rich cones and year-round shelter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Spruce-budworm habitat and dense winter roosting cover.
Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.
Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.
Feeding barn swallows through the Prince Edward Island year
Barn swallows nest on ledges under eaves and in barns; an open-front ledge shelf gives them a site.
- Best foods: .
- In Prince Edward Island's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are barn swallows in Prince Edward Island year-round?
No. Barn Swallows are summer breeders in Prince Edward Island and leave for the winter.
When do barn swallows nest in Prince Edward Island?
Nesting in Prince Edward Island 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 Prince Edward Island?
Eastern white pine, Paper birch, Sugar maple, Red maple, Chokecherry, Balsam fir, White spruce, Tamarack are native plants in Prince Edward Island that provide food or cover for barn swallows.
Barn Swallows in other regions
Other backyard birds in Prince Edward Island
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 — Prince Edward Island
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- 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.