Nebraska · Summer breeder

Tree Swallows in Nebraska

When tree swallows are present in Nebraska, when they nest, which native Nebraska plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4b–5b yard.

Swallows (Hirundinidae)Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolor

Status in Nebraska: Summer breeder
Nesting window: May–June
Broods: 1 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 4b–5b
Nest box: 1 1/2 in hole, 5 × 5 in floor, 5–10 ft

When to expect tree swallows in Nebraska

Tree Swallows are summer residents in Nebraska, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on flies, mayflies and dragonflies.

Continental, from tallgrass prairie in the east to the Sandhills and shortgrass in the west.

Nesting in Nebraska

Across Nebraska, tree swallows typically nest from May–June. Nest site: nest box or tree cavity lined with feathers. Females lay 4–7 eggs, incubate for 11–20 days, and young leave the nest after 15–25 days.

Hot summers with thunderstorms.

Have boxes cleaned and mounted before April — tree swallows begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
Use a 1 1/2 in entrance on a 5 × 5 in floor, mounted 5–10 ft.
Fit a pole baffle or hole guard; ventilation gaps and drainage holes are essential.
Clean out old nests after each brood and again after June.

Native Nebraska plants that attract tree swallows

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

Flowering dogwood

Cornus florida · Tree

Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.

White oak

Quercus alba · Tree

Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.

Bur oak

Quercus macrocarpa · Tree

Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.

Black cherry

Prunus serotina · Tree

Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.

American elderberry

Sambucus canadensis · Shrub

Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Feeding tree swallows through the Nebraska year

Tree swallows readily take bluebird-style nest boxes; mount boxes in pairs 15–25 ft apart to share with bluebirds.

Best foods: Crushed eggshells in spring.
In Nebraska's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

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

Frequently asked

Are tree swallows in Nebraska year-round?

No. Tree Swallows are summer breeders in Nebraska and leave for the winter.

When do tree swallows nest in Nebraska?

Nesting in Nebraska typically runs May–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 4–7 eggs, incubated for 11–20 days.

What native plants attract tree swallows in Nebraska?

Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, New England aster, Tall goldenrod are native plants in Nebraska that provide food or cover for tree swallows.

What size birdhouse hole do tree swallows need?

1 1/2 in, with a floor of 5 × 5 in mounted 5–10 ft.

Other backyard birds in Nebraska

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Black-capped Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Blue Jay House Finch Purple Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Carolina Wren Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Flicker Red-headed Woodpecker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Rose-breasted Grosbeak Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Indigo Bunting Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Eastern Screech-Owl Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Black-billed Magpie Pygmy Nuthatch Spotted Towhee Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe White-crowned Sparrow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove

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.