Tree Swallow in January
Where tree swallows are in January, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
January in the Tree Swallow's year
January is the coldest month across most of the US and Canada. Natural food is at its scarcest — insects are dormant, many seed heads are stripped, and snow cover hides what remains. Birds concentrate where food is reliable, which makes this the single best month to watch a well-stocked feeding station.
For the Tree Swallow specifically, January is a winter month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 60 states and provinces where tree swallows occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where tree swallows are in January
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In January, tree swallows are absent in the South, year-round resident 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 January
Tree swallows are not nesting in January. The season runs May–June at mid-latitudes.
That makes January a useful month for nest-box work: cleaning out old nesting material, checking mounts and predator guards, and making repairs while boxes are empty. A box that's ready early gets claimed early.
What to feed in January
- Bayberry and wax myrtle fruit
Tree swallows readily take bluebird-style nest boxes; mount boxes in pairs 15–25 ft apart to share with bluebirds.
Keep feeders consistently filled; birds add dependable stations to their daily foraging routes and suffer when one suddenly runs empty during a cold snap. High-energy foods matter most now.
Full Tree Swallow diet guide → · Best feeder for tree swallows →
Watching tree swallows this month
Tree swallows are settled and predictable in January, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
If you have a Tree Swallow box up, this is the month to make sure it's clean, secure and ready — the box guide below has the exact hole size and mounting height this species needs.
Tree Swallow month by month
Tree Swallow by state
Frequently asked
Where are tree swallows in January?
In January, tree swallows are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do tree swallows nest in January?
No — tree swallows typically nest May through June at mid-latitudes.
What do tree swallows eat in January?
Bayberry and wax myrtle fruit.
Sources
- Tree Swallow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Tree Swallow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Tree Swallow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
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.