Chimney Swifts in Manitoba
When chimney swifts are present in Manitoba, when they nest, which native Manitoba plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 1a–3b yard.
- Status in Manitoba
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 1a–3b
When to expect chimney swifts in Manitoba
Chimney Swifts are summer residents in Manitoba, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on flies, beetles, ants and aphids in flight.
Continental, from prairie in the southwest to boreal forest and Hudson Bay tundra in the north.
Nesting in Manitoba
Across Manitoba, chimney swifts typically nest from June–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.
Warm summers with a short, intense nesting season.
- Chimney Swifts don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as bur oak, american elderberry, eastern white pine for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Manitoba plants that attract chimney swifts
Of the regional native plants we track for Manitoba, these 8 provide food or cover chimney swifts use:
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Seed-rich cones and year-round shelter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Sweet dry fruit on the branch all winter.
Feeding chimney swifts through the Manitoba 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 Manitoba's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are chimney swifts in Manitoba year-round?
No. Chimney Swifts are summer breeders in Manitoba and leave for the winter.
When do chimney swifts nest in Manitoba?
Nesting in Manitoba typically runs June–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 16–21 days.
What native plants attract chimney swifts in Manitoba?
Bur oak, American elderberry, New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Eastern white pine, Paper birch, Chokecherry, Common hackberry are native plants in Manitoba that provide food or cover for chimney swifts.
Chimney Swifts in other regions
Other backyard birds in Manitoba
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 — Manitoba
- 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.