Swifts in Switzerland
When the Swift (Apus apus) 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–July
- Size
- 17 cm, 40 g
- Nest box
- Swift box with a 65 × 30 mm entrance, 5 m+ up
When to expect swifts in Switzerland
The Swift 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 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 Switzerland plants for swifts
Of the native plants we track for Switzerland, 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.
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
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 Switzerland all year?
No. The Swift is a summer visitor to Switzerland, arriving to breed and leaving in autumn.
When do swifts nest in Switzerland?
Typically May–July. Clutches are 2–3 eggs, incubated for 19–20 days, with 1 per year.
Which native plants help swifts in Switzerland?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Bramble, Wild cherry, Crab apple, Silver birch are native to Switzerland 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 Switzerland
Sources
- Swift — RSPB bird guide
- Swift — 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.