House Martins in Switzerland
When the House Martin (Delichon urbicum) is present in Switzerland, when it nests, and which native Switzerland plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Switzerland
- Summer visitor
- Nesting season
- May–August
- Size
- 12.5 cm, 18 g
- Nest box
- Artificial house martin cup under eaves
When to expect house martins in Switzerland
The House Martin arrives in Switzerland in spring to breed and leaves again in autumn. Warm summers with thunderstorms.
Temperate-continental in the plateau, Alpine in the mountains.
Nesting in Switzerland
In Switzerland 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 Switzerland plants for house martins
Of the native plants we track for Switzerland, 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.
Blackberries and impenetrable nesting cover.
Early-summer cherries for Blackbirds and Jays.
Windfalls sustain thrushes and Fieldfares into winter.
Catkin seed for Siskins and Redpolls; many caterpillars for tit broods.
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 Switzerland all year?
No. The House Martin is a summer visitor to Switzerland, arriving to breed and leaving in autumn.
When do house martins nest in Switzerland?
Typically May–August. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 14–16 days, with 2 per year.
Which native plants help house martins in Switzerland?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Bramble, Wild cherry, Crab apple, Silver birch are native to Switzerland 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 Switzerland
Sources
- House Martin — RSPB bird guide
- House Martin — BTO BirdFacts
- Swiss Breeding Bird Atlas — Swiss Ornithological Institute
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.