Violet-green Swallow in October
Where violet-green swallows are in October, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
October in the Violet-green 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 Violet-green Swallow specifically, October is a fall 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 October
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- mostly absent (migration only)
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In October, 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 October
Violet-green swallows are not nesting in October. The season runs May–July 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
- Winters in Mexico
Uses nest boxes in western towns and forests.
This is the month to get winter feeding stations established — birds are scouting the food sources they'll rely on all winter.
Watching violet-green swallows this month
Violet-green 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 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 October?
In October, 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 October?
No — violet-green swallows typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do violet-green swallows eat in October?
Winters in Mexico.
Sources
- Violet-green Swallow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Violet-green Swallow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Violet-green 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.