Diet
What do cliff swallows eat?
Flying insects taken high over fields and water.
Swallows (Hirundinidae)Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonota
Spring and summer diet
- Flies, beetles, bees and winged ants
Fall and winter diet
- Migrates to South America
Best feeder foods
- Crushed eggshell or oyster grit (for nest minerals)
Builds mud jug nests in dense colonies under bridges and eaves; leave a mud puddle nearby in spring.
Frequently asked
What do cliff swallows eat?
Flying insects taken high over fields and water.
What is the best food to feed cliff swallows?
Crushed eggshell or oyster grit (for nest minerals).
What do cliff swallows eat in winter?
Migrates to South America.
Sources
- Cliff Swallow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Cliff Swallow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Cliff Swallow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
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.