Prince Edward Island · Summer breeder

Cliff Swallows in Prince Edward Island

When cliff swallows are present in Prince Edward Island, when they nest, which native Prince Edward Island plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 4b–5b yard.

Swallows (Hirundinidae)Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonota

Status in Prince Edward Island: Summer breeder
Nesting window: June–July
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: Canada 4b–5b

When to expect cliff swallows in Prince Edward Island

Cliff Swallows are summer residents in Prince Edward Island, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent.

Humid continental moderated by the Gulf of St. Lawrence; mostly farmland and mixed woods.

Nesting in Prince Edward Island

Across Prince Edward Island, cliff swallows typically nest from June–July. Plan around that window: May for setup, July for clean-out.

Mild summers.

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

Native Prince Edward Island plants that attract cliff swallows

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

Eastern white pine

Pinus strobus · Tree

Seed-rich cones and year-round shelter.

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Sugar maple

Acer saccharum · Tree

Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.

Red maple

Acer rubrum · Tree

Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants.

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Balsam fir

Abies balsamea · Tree

Spruce-budworm habitat and dense winter roosting cover.

White spruce

Picea glauca · Tree

Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.

Tamarack

Larix laricina · Tree

Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.

Feeding cliff swallows through the Prince Edward Island year

Top foods: Crushed eggshell or oyster grit (for nest minerals).
In Prince Edward Island'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 Prince Edward Island year-round?

No. Cliff Swallows are summer breeders in Prince Edward Island and leave for the winter.

When do cliff swallows nest in Prince Edward Island?

Nesting in Prince Edward Island typically runs June–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 1–6 eggs, incubated for 10–19 days.

What native plants attract cliff swallows in Prince Edward Island?

Eastern white pine, Paper birch, Sugar maple, Red maple, Chokecherry, Balsam fir, White spruce, Tamarack are native plants in Prince Edward Island that provide food or cover for cliff swallows.

Other backyard birds in Prince Edward Island

Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Purple Finch American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Rose-breasted Grosbeak Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Canada Jay American Crow Common Raven Sharp-shinned Hawk Barred Owl Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Scarlet Tanager Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Gray Catbird Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Black-and-white Warbler Ovenbird Orange-crowned Warbler Palm Warbler Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Eastern Wood-Pewee Least Flycatcher Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Eastern Whip-poor-will Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper American Woodcock Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Black-backed Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Horned Lark Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Bohemian Waxwing Bobolink Rusty 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.