Oregon · Summer breeder

Cliff Swallows in Oregon

When cliff swallows are present in Oregon, when they nest, which native Oregon plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4b–9b yard.

Swallows (Hirundinidae)Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonota

Status in Oregon: Summer breeder
Nesting window: May–July
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 4b–9b

When to expect cliff swallows in Oregon

Cliff Swallows are summer residents in Oregon, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent.

Marine west-coast climate west of the Cascades; high desert to the east.

Nesting in Oregon

Across Oregon, cliff swallows typically nest from May–July. Plan around that window: April for setup, July for clean-out.

Dry summers west of the Cascades; hot days in the high desert.

Cliff Swallows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, chokecherry, ponderosa pine for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Oregon plants that attract cliff swallows

Of the regional native plants we track for Oregon, these 8 provide food or cover cliff swallows use:

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Ponderosa pine

Pinus ponderosa · Tree

Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.

Rabbitbrush

Ericameria nauseosa · Shrub

Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.

Oregon white oak

Quercus garryana · Tree

Acorns and a rich insect community in the Pacific Northwest.

Douglas fir

Pseudotsuga menziesii · Tree

Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees.

Willow (Bebb)

Salix bebbiana · Shrub

Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.

Feeding cliff swallows through the Oregon year

Top foods: Crushed eggshell or oyster grit (for nest minerals).
In Oregon's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for cliff swallows · Best feeder for cliff swallows

Frequently asked

Are cliff swallows in Oregon year-round?

No. Cliff Swallows are summer breeders in Oregon and leave for the winter.

When do cliff swallows nest in Oregon?

Nesting in Oregon typically runs May–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 1–6 eggs, incubated for 10–19 days.

What native plants attract cliff swallows in Oregon?

Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine, Rabbitbrush, Oregon white oak, Douglas fir, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in Oregon that provide food or cover for cliff swallows.

Other backyard birds in Oregon

Black-capped Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Purple Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Red-winged Blackbird Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Mountain Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Oak Titmouse Juniper Titmouse Pygmy Nuthatch Anna's Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Lesser Goldfinch Cassin's Finch California Towhee Spotted Towhee California Quail Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Black Phoebe Bewick's Wren White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Varied Thrush Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove American Crow Common Raven Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wood Duck Wild Turkey Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Gray Catbird Western Tanager Lark Sparrow Green-tailed Towhee Clark's Nutcracker Western Screech-Owl Hooded Merganser Band-tailed Pigeon Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Warbling Vireo Western Kingbird Ash-throated Flycatcher Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Green Heron Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Barn Owl Lewis's Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker White-headed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Bohemian Waxwing Bobolink Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Rock Pigeon

Sources

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.