Chimney Swifts in Michigan
When chimney swifts are present in Michigan, when they nest, which native Michigan plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–6b yard.
- Status in Michigan
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–6b
When to expect chimney swifts in Michigan
Chimney Swifts are summer residents in Michigan, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on flies, beetles, ants and aphids in flight.
Humid continental, strongly shaped by the Great Lakes; colder and snowier in the Upper Peninsula.
Nesting in Michigan
Across Michigan, chimney swifts typically nest from May–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.
A compressed nesting season; bluebirds usually manage one or two broods.
- Chimney Swifts don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as eastern hemlock, flowering dogwood, serviceberry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Michigan plants that attract chimney swifts
Of the regional native plants we track for Michigan, these 8 provide food or cover chimney swifts use:
Seeds and dense winter shelter.
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
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.
Feeding chimney swifts through the Michigan 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 Michigan's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are chimney swifts in Michigan year-round?
No. Chimney Swifts are summer breeders in Michigan and leave for the winter.
When do chimney swifts nest in Michigan?
Nesting in Michigan typically runs May–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 16–21 days.
What native plants attract chimney swifts in Michigan?
Eastern hemlock, Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum are native plants in Michigan that provide food or cover for chimney swifts.
Chimney Swifts in other regions
Other backyard birds in Michigan
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 — Michigan
- 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.