House Martins in England
When the House Martin (Delichon urbicum) is present in England, when it nests, and which native England plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in England
- Summer visitor
- Nesting season
- May–August
- Size
- 12.5 cm, 18 g
- Nest box
- Artificial house martin cup under eaves
- Delivery
- Perch Supply ships to the UK
When to expect house martins in England
The House Martin arrives in England in spring to breed and leaves again in autumn. Warm rather than hot, with dry spells in July and August when a clean bird bath matters as much as food.
Temperate maritime: mild, damp and changeable, drier and sunnier in the south-east than the north-west.
Nesting in England
In England the House Martin usually nests May–August. Nest site: mud cup under eaves. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 14–16 days; chicks fledge after 22–32 days, and pairs raise 2 per year.
- Nest box: Artificial house martin cup under eaves. Put boxes up by February and clean them out between September and January.
- Avoid cutting hedges during the nesting season (roughly March to August) — in the UK, disturbing an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Native England plants for house martins
Of the native plants we track for England, these 8 provide food the House Martin uses:
Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.
Late-winter berries when little else is left, plus dense nesting cover.
Late-summer berries taken by Blackcaps and thrushes.
Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.
Berries and nest sites in its tangles; moths for insect-eaters.
Blackberries and impenetrable nesting cover.
Seed heads for Goldfinches and a nectar source for insects.
Early-summer cherries for Blackbirds and Jays.
Feeding in the garden
Flying insects.
- Does not visit feeders — habitat and water are what bring it in.
- Artificial cup nests under eaves attract new colonies.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are house martins in England all year?
No. The House Martin is a summer visitor to England, arriving to breed and leaving in autumn.
When do house martins nest in England?
Typically May–August. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 14–16 days, with 2 per year.
Which native plants help house martins in England?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Common knapweed, Wild cherry are native to England and provide food or cover the House Martin uses.
What nest box does the House Martin use?
Artificial house martin cup under eaves.
House Martins in other countries
Other garden birds in England
Sources
- House Martin — RSPB bird guide
- House Martin — BTO BirdFacts
- Bird Atlas 2007–11 — British Trust for Ornithology
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.