Northern Rough-winged Swallow in May
Where northern rough-winged swallows are in May, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
May in the Northern Rough-winged Swallow's year
May is the peak of the birding year. Migration floods the North, dawn chorus is at its loudest, and nesting is underway across most of the continent. By month's end the first broods of the year are hatching in mid-latitudes.
For the Northern Rough-winged Swallow specifically, May is a spring month inside the nesting season — one of the most active and demanding periods of this bird's year. Across the 55 states and provinces where northern rough-winged swallows occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where northern rough-winged swallows are in May
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- summer breeder
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In May, northern rough-winged swallows are absent in the South, summer breeder across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in May
May is inside the Northern Rough-winged Swallow nesting season. Nest: grass nest in a burrow, pipe or crevice near water. Clutch 4–8 eggs, incubation 12–16 days, 1–2 per season.
The season is broadly synchronized across the range this month. During the nesting months, adults switch to protein-rich foods for their young, become more secretive around the nest site, and often visit feeders in quick, purposeful trips rather than lingering.
What to feed in May
- Flies, midges, beetles and winged ants
Nests in drainpipes, culverts and bank holes rather than colonies; often the first swallow over a pond.
Adults feeding nestlings need easy calories. Some species that ignored feeders all winter now visit regularly, and you may see fledglings brought to feeders by their parents.
Full Northern Rough-winged Swallow diet guide → · Best feeder for northern rough-winged swallows →
Watching northern rough-winged swallows this month
In May, the best watching is around food rather than the nest — adults make repeated foraging trips and are most visible at dawn and dusk. Give nesting birds space: if a bird is carrying food or scolding you persistently, you're close to a nest and should back off.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region northern rough-winged swallows are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow month by month
Northern Rough-winged Swallow by state
Frequently asked
Where are northern rough-winged swallows in May?
In May, northern rough-winged swallows are absent in the South, summer breeder across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do northern rough-winged swallows nest in May?
Yes — May falls inside the Northern Rough-winged Swallow nesting season at mid-latitudes.
What do northern rough-winged swallows eat in May?
Flies, midges, beetles and winged ants.
Sources
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
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.