Tree Swallow in October
Where tree swallows are in October, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
October in the Tree Swallow's year
October brings the year's great turnover. The last long-distance migrants depart, winter visitors arrive from the North, and sparrows flood back into brushy edges and feeder yards. The first hard frosts end the insect season across most of the continent.
For the Tree Swallow specifically, October is a fall 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 October
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In October, 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 October
Tree swallows are not nesting in October. The season runs May–June at mid-latitudes.
That makes October 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 October
- 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.
This is the month to get winter feeding stations established — birds are scouting the food sources they'll rely on all winter.
Full Tree Swallow diet guide → · Best feeder for tree swallows →
Watching tree swallows this month
Tree swallows are settled and predictable in October, 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 October?
In October, tree swallows are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do tree swallows nest in October?
No — tree swallows typically nest May through June at mid-latitudes.
What do tree swallows eat in October?
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.