Cave Swallow (Petrochelidon fulva) is in the Swallows and Martins family (Hirundinidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,302 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Cave Swallow: observations by month (U.S.)
About Cave Swallow
The cave swallow (Petrochelidon fulva) is a medium-sized, squarish tailed swallow belonging to the same genus as the more familiar and widespread cliff swallow of North America. The cave swallow, also native to the Americas, nests and roosts primarily in caves and sinkholes.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Cave Swallow by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 1,585 | April | Mar–Sep |
| Florida | 245 | July | Mar–Aug |
| New Mexico | 142 | July | Mar–Sep |
| Louisiana | 116 | October | Sep–Oct |
| New York | 25 | November | Nov–Nov |
| California | 21 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Oklahoma | 21 | April | Apr–Jul |
| New Jersey | 17 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Massachusetts | 15 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Maryland | 14 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Arizona | 13 | February | Dec–Feb |
| Connecticut | 11 | November | Nov–Nov |
| North Carolina | 9 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Pennsylvania | 9 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Virginia | 8 | November | Nov–Dec |
| Oregon | 7 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Ohio | 6 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Tennessee | 6 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Georgia | 5 | October | Oct–Oct |
| South Carolina | 5 | January | Nov–Jan |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Swallows and Martins)
Barn Swallow
Tree Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Purple Martin
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Bank Swallow
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Cave Swallow?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to November.
Where is Cave Swallow most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Florida, New Mexico.