Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) is in the Swallows and Martins family (Hirundinidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 59,733 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
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 Tree Swallow: observations by month (U.S.)
About Tree Swallow
The tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) is a migratory passerine bird that breeds in North America and winters in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. It is a very rare vagrant to western Europe.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Tree Swallow by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 10,596 | April | Feb–Jun |
| Ohio | 4,346 | May | Apr–May |
| Pennsylvania | 3,648 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 3,251 | May | Apr–Jun |
| New York | 3,003 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Illinois | 2,632 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Virginia | 2,529 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Maryland | 2,528 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Oregon | 2,384 | May | Mar–Jun |
| Washington | 2,140 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 1,856 | May | Apr–Jun |
| New Jersey | 1,836 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Minnesota | 1,650 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Michigan | 1,465 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Florida | 1,248 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Colorado | 1,060 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Tennessee | 1,019 | April | Mar–Jun |
| North Carolina | 912 | May | Mar–Jun |
| Vermont | 851 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Connecticut | 850 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Indiana | 812 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Texas | 749 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Alaska | 724 | May | May–Jul |
| Montana | 607 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Utah | 546 | May | Apr–May |
| Delaware | 505 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Maine | 486 | May | Apr–Jul |
| South Carolina | 479 | April | Jan–Apr |
| Wyoming | 475 | June | May–Jul |
| Idaho | 396 | May | Apr–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 394 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Missouri | 323 | April | Apr–May |
| Louisiana | 310 | April | Oct–Apr |
| Iowa | 291 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Kentucky | 279 | April | Apr–May |
| Georgia | 275 | April | Mar–May |
| Alabama | 261 | April | Mar–May |
| Arizona | 245 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Kansas | 242 | April | Apr–May |
| Rhode Island | 227 | May | Apr–Jun |
| West Virginia | 222 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Nebraska | 199 | May | Apr–Jun |
| South Dakota | 178 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Arkansas | 157 | May | Mar–Jun |
| Oklahoma | 104 | April | Apr–May |
| North Dakota | 103 | May | May–Jun |
| District of Columbia | 98 | April | Apr–May |
| New Mexico | 92 | April | Mar–Aug |
| Nevada | 80 | April | Feb–May |
| Mississippi | 70 | January | Oct–Jan |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Swallows and Martins)
Barn Swallow
Cliff 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 Tree Swallow?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to June.
Where is Tree Swallow most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Ohio, Pennsylvania.