House Martins in Sweden
When the House Martin (Delichon urbicum) is present in Sweden, when it nests, and which native Sweden plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Sweden
- Summer visitor
- Nesting season
- June–August
- Size
- 12.5 cm, 18 g
- Nest box
- Artificial house martin cup under eaves
When to expect house martins in Sweden
The House Martin arrives in Sweden in spring to breed and leaves again in autumn. Short, intense summers with very long days.
Temperate in the south, boreal across most of the country and subarctic in the far north.
Nesting in Sweden
In Sweden the House Martin usually nests June–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 Sweden plants for house martins
Of the native plants we track for Sweden, 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.
Early-summer cherries for Blackbirds and Jays.
Windfalls sustain thrushes and Fieldfares into winter.
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 Sweden all year?
No. The House Martin is a summer visitor to Sweden, arriving to breed and leaving in autumn.
When do house martins nest in Sweden?
Typically June–August. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 14–16 days, with 2 per year.
Which native plants help house martins in Sweden?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Wild cherry, Crab apple are native to Sweden 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 Sweden
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.