What Birds Are Still Raising Chicks in Summer?

Many people think baby birds only hatch in the spring. But in truth, many birds are still raising chicks during summer, even into July and August! Some birds start second broods shortly after their first chicks leave the nest, while others like goldfinches and cedar waxwings wait until summer to begin nesting.

Why Do Some Birds Nest in Summer?

Besides raising multiple broods and starting late, there are several other reasons why birds nest in summer:

• Food Availability: Some birds wait until their preferred food, like seeds, fruits or insects, is most plentiful to feed their chicks.
• Better Weather: Longer, warmer days help eggs stay warm and give parents more daylight to find food.
• Fewer Predators: In some areas, predators like snakes may be less active, giving birds a better chance to survive.
• Replacing Lost Nests: If a bird’s earlier nest was lost, they may build a new nest in summer to try again.
• Late Migration: Birds that migrate may arrive late to their breeding grounds and start nesting only when they settle in summer.

Birds Still Raising Chicks in Summer

1.American Robin

One of the most familiar backyard birds, American robins often raise two to three broods per year. Their first nest may be built in April or May, but it’s common to see young robins in July and even August. After the first brood, robins may begin building a new nest just days later.

2.Northern Cardinal

Cardinals are devoted parents and often raise multiple broods, especially in warmer regions. The male helps feed the fledglings while the female starts another nest. As a result, it’s not uncommon to see tiny, fluffy cardinal chicks in mid-summer.

3.Barn Swallow

Barn swallows are aerial acrobats known for their mud nests attached to human structures like barns and porches. These birds are frequent re-nesters, often raising two broods per year. You can spot their chicks huddled on rafters of ledges well into August.

4.House Wren

Tiny but vocal, house wrens are enthusiastic breeders. They can raise up to three broods each season, especially in southern parts of North America. Their nesting behavior continues through much of the summer, often in birdhouses or tree cavities.

5.Eastern Bluebird

Bluebirds are a favorite for birdwatchers. These colorful songbirds typically raise two to three broods every year. You’ll find baby bluebirds fledging well into July and sometimes early August.

6.Mourning Dove

Mourning doves have an exceptionally long breeding season, starting as early as February in the South and extending into late summer. Their fast reproductive cycle — just 14 days to hatch and another 12-15 to fledge — allows them to raise up to six broods a year.

7.Goldfinches

Unlike most songbirds, American goldfinches nest later in the season, typically beginning in late June or July. This timing coincides with the peak availability of seeds, especially thistles, which make up the majority of their diet. You’re more likely to see goldfinch chicks in August than in spring.

8.Common Grackle and Red-winged Blackbird

These birds often start nesting in late spring and may continue into July, Grackles and red-winged blackbirds can raise multiple broods, particularly in wetland habitats where food remains abundant throughout the summer.

What Can You Do?

If you enjoy birds, summer is a great time to help them out:

• Put out fresh water: Birdbaths help adult birds and chicks stay cool and hydrated.
• Don’t trim bushes: Birds might still be nesting in hedges or shrubs.
• Leave fledglings alone: Baby birds may hop around after leaving the nest, but their parents are usually nearby.
• Keep cats indoors: Young birds are learning to fly and are easy targets for pets.

How to Spot Summer Nesting?

Even in the heat of summer, many birds are still raising chicks—you just have to know where (and how) to look! Many birds, like bluebirds, chickadees and wrens, use nest boxes well into summer. You can install a bird box camera into the birdhouse and watch nesting activity in real time—without disturbing the birds. It’s a fun and educational way to observe eggs hatching and chicks growing up!

Here are some great options you can try: