How to Get Rid of Cliff Swallows (For Good)

“Churr.”

If you’re hearing that sound from a small, stocky bird with a square tail, blue-black back, pale underside, and cinnamon-colored throat, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with cliff swallows.

You might also hear a softer “heew” — another common call from these social birds.

At about 5½ inches long, cliff swallows are best known for their jug-shaped mud nests, which they originally built along cliff faces. Today, however, they’ve adapted to human environments, building nests under eaves, overhangs, bridges, and barns.

And that’s where the problem starts.

Why cliff swallows are a problem for homes and buildings

Cliff swallows might be small, but the problems they create aren’t.

Once they start nesting on a structure, they can cause:

• Messy droppings: Large colonies produce significant waste that stains siding and walkways
• Property damage: The mud pellet and saliva nest mixture and can be difficult to remove
• Swallow bugs: These parasites are similar to bed bugs and can migrate indoors once nests are abandoned
• Noise disturbances: Colonies can be loud, especially during nesting season (from spring to fall, depending on region)
• Unsightly buildup: Multiple nests are often in a single area, leading to large, unappealing structures that can take away from curb appeal

On top of that, they tend to nest in large groups. And once they choose a location, they often return year after year after year.

Why it’s so hard to get rid of cliff swallows

If you’re wondering why you can’t just remove them, the answer comes down to the law.

Cliff swallows are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA), which makes it illegal to:

• Destroy active nests (those containing eggs or chicks)
• Remove eggs
• Harm or kill the birds

MBTA violations can result in fines of $5,000 to $250,000 or more, jail sentences, license revocations, and more depending on the violation severity.

When Can You Remove Cliff Swallow Nests?

Timing is critical. Nests can only be removed when:

• Birds are not present (typically in winter), and
• No eggs have been laid

If mud nests are just starting to form, they can often be removed immediately before eggs are laid. Generally, acting early in the season can make a big difference, as options become more limited once nesting is underway.

How to get rid of cliff swallows (the right way)

Because of legal protections, the goal isn’t to remove the birds, it’s to prevent them from nesting in the first place.

That means one thing: Exclusion.

The most effective way to get rid of cliff swallows for good is to block access to their preferred nesting areas.

Effective cliff swallow deterrent methods:

• Bird netting: Install mesh from the outer edge of the eave down to the wall at an angle to eliminate gaps and block access
• Bird slopes: Create a 45° angled surface under eaves so birds can’t land or attach mud nests
• Bird spikes: Place along ledges and tight corners to disrupt common nesting footholds
• Cliff swallow-specific solutions: In commercial settings, products like HY-GUARD EXCLUSION® Nest Blocker™ are designed to prevent nesting on sidewall sprinkler heads, which are areas that can be particularly sensitive from a maintenance and code standpoint
  

Discover Nest Blocker

These bird exclusion tools can be found at distributors like Wildlife Control Supplies and Animal Traps and Supplies.

Why prevention is the only long-term solution

Cliff swallows are persistent.

Once a nesting site is established, cliff swallows tend to return year after year, making early prevention important.

That’s exactly why temporary fixes don’t work. Spraying nests or removing mud alone won’t solve the problem unless you also:

• Eliminate access points
• Modify the surface they attach to
• Install proper deterrents

Without that, you’re likely to deal with the same issue again next season.

Stop cliff swallows before they nest

Cliff swallows are a protected species, which means removal options are limited. That said, prevention is highly effective.

By acting early and using proper exclusion methods, you can:

• Prevent nesting before it starts
• Avoid property damage and cleanup
• Reduce the risk of swallow bugs entering your home

Because when it comes to cliff swallows, the key isn’t getting rid of them after the fact; it’s making sure they never settle in to begin with.