Chimney Swifts in South Dakota
When chimney swifts are present in South Dakota, when they nest, which native South Dakota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–5b yard.
- Status in South Dakota
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–5b
When to expect chimney swifts in South Dakota
Chimney Swifts are summer residents in South Dakota, 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.
Continental, with prairie east of the Missouri River and the forested Black Hills in the west.
Nesting in South Dakota
Across South Dakota, 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.
Warm summers with thunderstorms; the Black Hills host western mountain birds.
- Chimney Swifts don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as bur oak, black cherry, american elderberry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native South Dakota plants that attract chimney swifts
Of the regional native plants we track for South Dakota, these 8 provide food or cover chimney swifts use:
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.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Sweet dry fruit on the branch all winter.
Feeding chimney swifts through the South Dakota 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 South Dakota's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are chimney swifts in South Dakota year-round?
No. Chimney Swifts are summer breeders in South Dakota and leave for the winter.
When do chimney swifts nest in South Dakota?
Nesting in South Dakota 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 South Dakota?
Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Sugar maple, Chokecherry, Common hackberry are native plants in South Dakota that provide food or cover for chimney swifts.
Chimney Swifts in other regions
Other backyard birds in South Dakota
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 — South Dakota
- 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.