Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) is in the Swallows and Martins family (Hirundinidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 27,642 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Cliff Swallow: observations by month (U.S.)
About Cliff Swallow
The American cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) is a member of the passerine bird family Hirundinidae consisting of both swallow and martin species. The scientific name is derived from Ancient Greek; Petrochelidon originates from the petros meaning "rock" and khelidon "swallow", pyrrhonota comes from purrhos meaning "flame-coloured" and -notos "-backed".From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Cliff Swallow by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 10,149 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Texas | 3,599 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Colorado | 1,016 | May | May–Jul |
| Oregon | 825 | May | May–Jul |
| Illinois | 756 | May | May–Aug |
| Utah | 723 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Washington | 709 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Arizona | 680 | April | Mar–Jun |
| New Mexico | 627 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Tennessee | 534 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Ohio | 453 | May | May–Jul |
| Wyoming | 453 | June | Jun–Aug |
| South Dakota | 430 | July | May–Aug |
| Maryland | 403 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 396 | May | May–Jul |
| Minnesota | 344 | May | May–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 332 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Idaho | 330 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Alabama | 309 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Montana | 298 | June | May–Aug |
| Louisiana | 296 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 296 | June | May–Jul |
| Iowa | 294 | June | May–Aug |
| Georgia | 285 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Kansas | 274 | May | May–Jul |
| North Carolina | 256 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Missouri | 245 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Michigan | 227 | May | May–Jul |
| Virginia | 210 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Nebraska | 204 | May | May–Jul |
| Arkansas | 201 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Nevada | 188 | May | Apr–Jul |
| New York | 161 | May | May–Jul |
| Alaska | 153 | June | May–Jul |
| Florida | 147 | August | Mar–Aug |
| Indiana | 135 | May | Apr–Jul |
| South Carolina | 124 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Vermont | 100 | June | May–Jul |
| Mississippi | 96 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Kentucky | 92 | June | Apr–Jul |
| North Dakota | 73 | June | May–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 39 | May | May–Jul |
| Maine | 38 | May | May–Aug |
| New Jersey | 35 | May | May–Jun |
| District of Columbia | 34 | May | May–Jul |
| West Virginia | 33 | July | Apr–Aug |
| Connecticut | 15 | May | May–May |
| Delaware | 14 | May | May–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 9 | June | May–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Swallows and Martins)
Barn Swallow
Tree Swallow
Purple Martin
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Bank Swallow
Cave 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 Cliff Swallow?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to July.
Where is Cliff Swallow most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Colorado.