Barn Swallows in Virginia
When barn swallows are present in Virginia, when they nest, which native Virginia plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5b–8a yard.
- Status in Virginia
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5b–8a
When to expect barn swallows in Virginia
Barn Swallows are summer residents in Virginia, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on flies, beetles and moths.
Humid subtropical in the east, cooler and snowier in the Blue Ridge and Allegheny highlands.
Nesting in Virginia
Across Virginia, 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.
Warm, humid summers; House Wrens and hummingbirds breed statewide.
- Barn Swallows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as flowering dogwood, spicebush, serviceberry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Virginia plants that attract barn swallows
Of the regional native plants we track for Virginia, these 8 provide food or cover barn swallows use:
Fall fruit.
High-fat red berries and caterpillar host.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
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.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Feeding barn swallows through the Virginia year
Barn swallows nest on ledges under eaves and in barns; an open-front ledge shelf gives them a site.
- Best foods: .
- In Virginia's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are barn swallows in Virginia year-round?
No. Barn Swallows are summer breeders in Virginia and leave for the winter.
When do barn swallows nest in Virginia?
Nesting in Virginia 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 Virginia?
Flowering dogwood, Spicebush, Serviceberry, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, New England aster are native plants in Virginia that provide food or cover for barn swallows.
Barn Swallows in other regions
Other backyard birds in Virginia
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 — Virginia
- 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.