Swallow Nests on Your Texas House: What the Law Allows and How to Prevent Them

Mud nests under a porch ceiling or along the eaves are almost always swallows, and in Texas they are protected by both federal and state law. Here is how to tell which swallow you have, when a nest can legally be removed, and how to keep them from building again next spring.

The short version

Swallows are protected. Barn, cliff and cave swallows are all on the federal list of migratory birds, and Texas law separately bars disturbing the nests, eggs or young of nongame birds.
An empty nest can come down. An in-use nest can't. Under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service policy, a nest is in use from the first egg until the young have fledged and no longer depend on it.
Timing matters most. The practical window to remove old nests and install barriers is after the birds leave in late summer or fall and before they return in spring.
Sprays and repellents don't work. Both USFWS and TPWD say chemical controls are not effective. Physical barriers are.

Which swallow is nesting on your house?

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension says that of the eight swallow species in North America, the two most likely to nest on houses, barns and other structures are the barn swallow and the cliff swallow. Barn swallows tend to nest as single pairs. Cliff swallows nest in colonies that can reach several hundred pairs (AgriLife Today, March 2026).

The nests look different. A Texas Parks and Wildlife Department booklet describes the barn swallow nest as a semicircular cup of mud and straw that tapers downward into a cone and is usually lined with feathers. The cliff swallow builds a gourd-shaped mud nest with an enclosed chamber and plasters it to the side of the building, the way it would on a cliff face (TPWD, Swallow Congregations). One cup under a porch light is usually a barn swallow. A row of jug-shaped nests packed along an eave is usually cliff swallows.

Much of Central, South and West Texas also has cave swallows. The Texas Breeding Bird Atlas maps their breeding range from South Texas through much of the southern and eastern Edwards Plateau and parts of the Trans-Pecos. Cave swallows nest mostly in culverts and under bridges, but the atlas notes that buildings also get some use. Like cliff swallows, they nest close together, though they do not stack nests on top of each other (Texas Breeding Bird Atlas: Cave Swallow).

What the law says

Federal law. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects barn, cliff, cave and northern rough-winged swallows, all of which appear on the federal list at 50 CFR 10.13. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it is illegal to take, possess, transport, sell or purchase swallows or their parts, including nests and eggs, without a permit. Active nests with eggs or chicks may not be touched or destroyed without a permit, and the Service says it does not issue permits for nuisance problems (USFWS: Nuisance swallows).

The Service's January 2025 nest memorandum defines an in-use nest as one that contains viable eggs or nestlings. A nest becomes in use when the first egg is laid and stays in use until the young fledge and no longer depend on it. Nests that are still being built, before an egg is laid, are inactive. An inactive nest can be destroyed without a permit as long as nobody keeps the nest or its contents (USFWS MBPM-2-02).

Texas law. Texas Parks and Wildlife Code §64.002 makes it an offense to disturb or destroy the eggs, nest or young of any bird that is not a game bird. The only birds the statute exempts from that rule are European starlings, English (house) sparrows and feral rock doves. Swallows are not on that list, and a violation is a Class C Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor under §64.005 (Tex. Parks & Wild. Code ch. 64).

TPWD's booklet adds a practical warning: harassing swallows or destroying their active nests is illegal, and that includes common suggestions like shooing the birds with a broom, spraying the nests with water, or knocking nests down once they are noticed. Its advice is to replace those reactions with prevention before the next season.

When swallows nest in Texas

USFWS gives the swallow breeding season as March through September. Swallows often raise two clutches a year of 3 to 5 eggs. The eggs hatch after 13 to 17 days and the young fledge after 18 to 24 days, but the chicks keep returning to the nest for several weeks after fledging. Swallows may also reuse old nests or rebuild on the traces of mud an old nest left behind.

Texas data line up with that. The Texas Breeding Bird Atlas account for the barn swallow cites a Brazos County study that recorded the earliest egg-laying on March 27 and the latest on July 20, with no nests holding eggs by August 8. Oberholser's Bird Life of Texas gave the state's barn swallow season as late March through mid-August (Texas Breeding Bird Atlas: Barn Swallow). AgriLife says barn swallows typically keep arriving in the southern U.S. until mid-April.

That makes fall and winter the time to deal with a swallow problem in most of Texas. The young are long gone, the nests are inactive, and barriers can go up well before the first birds return in March.

How to keep swallows from nesting next season

Every agency source agrees that prevention works better than removal. Here is what they recommend:

Remove old nests and mud before spring. USFWS says to get rid of old nests and any traces of mud before the birds come back, because they will rebuild on them. AgriLife says the same: birds reuse old nests if they are available.
Block the spot where the nest attaches. AgriLife suggests netting or wire mesh over eaves and roof-wall corners. USFWS lists smooth surfaces such as corrugated plastic, Teflon (PTFE), plexiglass or plastic sheeting. TPWD describes an angled barrier between the wall and the eave that removes the right-angle corner swallows prefer.
Use movement where barriers are impractical. TPWD says hanging plants that move in the wind, foil strips or windsocks near the building site have discouraged swallows. AgriLife adds overlapping vinyl strips for open doorways.
If birds start building, act before the first egg. USFWS and AgriLife both say mud can be washed off while the nest is still under construction, and the birds may give up on the spot. Once there is an egg, the nest has to stay until the young are gone.
Skip the sprays. USFWS says repellents are not effective and no toxicants are registered by the EPA to control swallows. TPWD says no chemical spray has been found effective, and that trying to limit the mud supply around a house doesn't work either.

Droppings, mites and swallow bugs

Most complaints are about the mess. USFWS suggests washing droppings away often and laying newspaper under nests during the season. Old nests also carry parasites. AgriLife's specialist says mites and other parasites can survive in an empty nest for as long as three years, and recommends gloves and a respirator mask when scraping nests down. USFWS notes that swallow nests can hold mites and swallow bugs, which are close relatives of bed bugs but are not considered a threat to people.

If you are dealing with small birds inside an exhaust vent instead of mud nests on the wall, that is usually a different set of birds and rules. See our guide to birds in dryer and bathroom vents.

How we handle swallow problems

We start by identifying the species and checking for eggs or young. If a nest is in use, we document it and schedule the work for after the young have fledged. Once nests are inactive, we remove them and the mud footprints, clean the area with protective gear, and install a barrier matched to the spot: netting or mesh for eaves and porch ceilings, smooth sloped panels for wall-to-eave corners. The goal is to have everything in place before swallows return in early spring.

Frequently asked questions

Is it illegal to knock down a swallow nest in Texas?

It is illegal if the nest is in use. Swallows are protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Code §64.002 bars disturbing the nests, eggs or young of nongame birds. Federal policy allows removing an inactive nest, meaning one with no eggs or young, as long as you don't keep it.

When can I remove swallow nests from my house?

After the young have fledged and stopped using the nest, which in most of Texas means late summer or fall. Federal guidance puts the swallow breeding season at March through September, and fledged chicks can return to the nest for several weeks.

Can I get a permit to remove an active swallow nest?

Not for a nuisance. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it does not issue permits for bird nuisance issues. Permits need strong reasons such as a health or safety hazard or property damage.

What is the best way to stop swallows from nesting on my porch?

Remove old nests and mud before spring, then block the spot where nests attach with netting, mesh or a smooth angled barrier. Texas A&M AgriLife and USFWS both say prevention before nesting starts is far more effective than reacting once the birds are building.

Are swallow nests a health risk?

Droppings build up under nests, and old nests can harbor mites and swallow bugs. AgriLife says parasites can persist in an empty nest for up to three years, so wear gloves and a respirator mask when removing one.

Sources

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