Chimney Swifts in Georgia
When chimney swifts are present in Georgia, when they nest, which native Georgia plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 7a–9a yard.
- Status in Georgia
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- April–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 7a–9a
When to expect chimney swifts in Georgia
Chimney Swifts are summer residents in Georgia, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on flies, beetles, ants and aphids in flight.
Humid subtropical, with cooler mountains in the north and a warm coastal plain in the south.
Nesting in Georgia
Across Georgia, chimney swifts typically nest from April–July. Nest site: half-cup of twigs glued with saliva inside chimneys. Females lay 4–5 eggs, incubate for 16–21 days, and young leave the nest after 28–30 days.
Hot, humid summers; bluebirds can raise three broods but boxes in full sun overheat.
- Chimney Swifts 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 Georgia plants that attract chimney swifts
Of the regional native plants we track for Georgia, these 8 provide food or cover chimney swifts use:
High-fat fall fruit critical before migration and winter.
Early-summer berries.
Supports hundreds of caterpillar species used to feed nestlings.
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.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Feeding chimney swifts through the Georgia year
Leave an uncapped masonry chimney open April–October, or build a swift tower; populations have fallen by roughly two-thirds since 1966.
- Best foods: .
- In Georgia's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are chimney swifts in Georgia year-round?
No. Chimney Swifts are summer breeders in Georgia and leave for the winter.
When do chimney swifts nest in Georgia?
Nesting in Georgia typically runs April–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 16–21 days.
What native plants attract chimney swifts in Georgia?
Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush, Tall goldenrod are native plants in Georgia that provide food or cover for chimney swifts.
Chimney Swifts in other regions
Other backyard birds in Georgia
Sources
- Chimney Swift — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Chimney Swift life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Chimney Swift — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Georgia
- 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.