New Mexico · Summer breeder

Tree Swallows in New Mexico

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

Swallows (Hirundinidae)Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolor

Status in New Mexico: Summer breeder
Nesting window: May–June
Broods: 1 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 4b–9a
Nest box: 1 1/2 in hole, 5 × 5 in floor, 5–10 ft

When to expect tree swallows in New Mexico

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

Arid to semi-arid, with Chihuahuan desert in the south and mountain forest above 7,000 ft.

Nesting in New Mexico

Across New Mexico, 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, dry early summer followed by the July–August monsoon.

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 New Mexico plants that attract tree swallows

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

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.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in 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.

Gambel oak

Quercus gambelii · Tree

Acorns for jays and woodpeckers across the southern Rockies.

Rabbitbrush

Ericameria nauseosa · Shrub

Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.

Hackberry (desert)

Celtis pallida · Shrub

Thorny cover with orange fruit favored by thrashers and cardinals.

Feeding tree swallows through the New Mexico 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 New Mexico'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 New Mexico year-round?

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

When do tree swallows nest in New Mexico?

Nesting in New Mexico 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 New Mexico?

Black cherry, American elderberry, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, Rabbitbrush, Hackberry (desert) are native plants in New Mexico 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 New Mexico

Northern Cardinal Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Indigo Bunting Painted Bunting Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Cedar Waxwing Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay Black-billed Magpie Mountain Chickadee Bushtit Juniper Titmouse Pygmy Nuthatch Anna's Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird Broad-tailed Hummingbird Costa's Hummingbird Lesser Goldfinch Cassin's Finch Spotted Towhee Canyon Towhee Gambel's Quail Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Black Phoebe Gila Woodpecker Ladder-backed Woodpecker Cactus Wren Curve-billed Thrasher Verdin Pyrrhuloxia Bewick's Wren White-crowned Sparrow Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove White-winged Dove Inca 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.