Swifts in Ireland
When the Swift (Apus apus) is present in Ireland, when it nests, and which native Ireland plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Ireland
- Summer visitor
- Nesting season
- May–July
- Size
- 17 cm, 40 g
- Nest box
- Swift box with a 65 × 30 mm entrance, 5 m+ up
When to expect swifts in Ireland
The Swift arrives in Ireland in spring to breed and leaves again in autumn. Cool, moist summers. Ireland has no native Nuthatch or Green Woodpecker, and Great Spotted Woodpecker has only recolonised since 2006.
Oceanic climate — mild, humid and consistently wet, especially in the west.
Nesting in Ireland
In Ireland the Swift usually nests May–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 Ireland plants for swifts
Of the native plants we track for Ireland, these 8 provide food the Swift 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
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 Ireland all year?
No. The Swift is a summer visitor to Ireland, arriving to breed and leaving in autumn.
When do swifts nest in Ireland?
Typically May–July. Clutches are 2–3 eggs, incubated for 19–20 days, with 1 per year.
Which native plants help swifts in Ireland?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Common knapweed, Wild cherry are native to Ireland 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 Ireland
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.