Month by month

Violet-green Swallow in March

Where violet-green swallows are in March, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.

Swallows (Hirundinidae)Violet-green SwallowTachycineta thalassina

March in the Violet-green Swallow's year

March is a month of transition. Winter visitors begin drifting north, the first spring migrants appear in the South, and resident birds are in full song. Weather swings hard — a warm week can push migration early, and a late blizzard can catch migrants short of food.

For the Violet-green Swallow specifically, March is a spring month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 16 states and provinces where violet-green swallows occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.

Where violet-green swallows are in March

Southern states
absent
Mid-latitudes
mostly absent (migration only)
Northern states & Canada
absent

In March, violet-green swallows are absent in the South, mostly absent (migration only) 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 March

Violet-green swallows are not nesting in March. The season runs May–July at mid-latitudes.

That makes March 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.

Violet-green Swallow nest box dimensions and mounting →

What to feed in March

  • Winters in Mexico

Uses nest boxes in western towns and forests.

Migration brings new faces to feeders. Keep seed fresh and watch for birds passing through that you won't see again until fall.

Full Violet-green Swallow diet guide →

Watching violet-green swallows this month

Violet-green swallows are settled and predictable in March, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.

If you have a Violet-green 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.

Violet-green Swallow month by month

Violet-green Swallow by state

Frequently asked

Where are violet-green swallows in March?

In March, violet-green swallows are absent in the South, mostly absent (migration only) across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.

Do violet-green swallows nest in March?

No — violet-green swallows typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.

What do violet-green swallows eat in March?

Winters in Mexico.

Sources

  1. Violet-green Swallow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Violet-green Swallow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Violet-green Swallow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. 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.