Swifts in Wales
When the Swift (Apus apus) is present in Wales, when it nests, and which native Wales plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Wales
- Summer visitor
- Nesting season
- May–July
- Size
- 17 cm, 40 g
- Nest box
- Swift box with a 65 × 30 mm entrance, 5 m+ up
- Delivery
- Perch Supply ships to the UK
When to expect swifts in Wales
The Swift arrives in Wales in spring to breed and leaves again in autumn. Cool, damp summers with long daylight; oak woodland supports Pied Flycatchers and Redstarts.
Mild, wet maritime climate with upland moorland and sheltered coastal valleys.
Nesting in Wales
In Wales 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 Wales plants for swifts
Of the native plants we track for Wales, 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 Wales all year?
No. The Swift is a summer visitor to Wales, arriving to breed and leaving in autumn.
When do swifts nest in Wales?
Typically May–July. Clutches are 2–3 eggs, incubated for 19–20 days, with 1 per year.
Which native plants help swifts in Wales?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Common knapweed, Wild cherry are native to Wales 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 Wales
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.