Chimney Swifts in West Virginia
When chimney swifts are present in West Virginia, when they nest, which native West Virginia plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5b–7a yard.
- Status in West Virginia
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5b–7a
When to expect chimney swifts in West Virginia
Chimney Swifts are summer residents in West Virginia, 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 Appalachian state with high ridges and deep river valleys.
Nesting in West Virginia
Across West Virginia, 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, humid summers; high ridges host northern breeders.
- 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 West Virginia plants that attract chimney swifts
Of the regional native plants we track for West Virginia, these 8 provide food or cover chimney swifts use:
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.
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.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Feeding chimney swifts through the West Virginia 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 West Virginia's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are chimney swifts in West Virginia year-round?
No. Chimney Swifts are summer breeders in West Virginia and leave for the winter.
When do chimney swifts nest in West Virginia?
Nesting in West Virginia 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 West Virginia?
Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in West Virginia that provide food or cover for chimney swifts.
Chimney Swifts in other regions
Other backyard birds in West Virginia
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 — West 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.