Swifts in Finland
When the Swift (Apus apus) is present in Finland, when it nests, and which native Finland plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Finland
- Summer visitor
- Nesting season
- June–July
- Size
- 17 cm, 40 g
- Nest box
- Swift box with a 65 × 30 mm entrance, 5 m+ up
When to expect swifts in Finland
The Swift arrives in Finland in spring to breed and leaves again in autumn. Brief, bright summers; nesting is compressed into May–July.
Boreal continental, forested and lake-strewn.
Nesting in Finland
In Finland the Swift usually nests June–July. Nest site: under roof tiles or in swift boxes. Clutches are 2–3 eggs, incubated for 19–20 days; chicks fledge after 37–56 days, and pairs raise 1 per year.
- Nest box: Swift box with a 65 × 30 mm entrance, 5 m+ up. 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 Finland plants for swifts
Of the native plants we track for Finland, these 8 provide food the Swift uses:
Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.
Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.
Blackberries and impenetrable nesting cover.
Catkin seed for Siskins and Redpolls; many caterpillars for tit broods.
Cones hold seed that Siskins and Goldfinches feed on all winter.
Hazelnuts for Nuthatches, Jays and Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
Pine seed for Coal Tits, Crested Tits and Crossbills.
Cone seed for Siskins and Coal Tits; Goldcrest nesting habitat.
Feeding in the garden
Airborne insects.
- Does not visit feeders — habitat and water are what bring it in.
- Swift bricks and boxes under eaves are the single biggest help.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are swifts in Finland all year?
No. The Swift is a summer visitor to Finland, arriving to breed and leaving in autumn.
When do swifts nest in Finland?
Typically June–July. Clutches are 2–3 eggs, incubated for 19–20 days, with 1 per year.
Which native plants help swifts in Finland?
Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Bramble, Silver birch, Alder, Hazel, Scots pine, Norway spruce are native to Finland and provide food or cover the Swift uses.
What nest box does the Swift use?
Swift box with a 65 × 30 mm entrance, 5 m+ up.
Swifts in other countries
Other garden birds in Finland
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.