Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) is in the Swallows and Martins family (Hirundinidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 14,602 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 Violet-green Swallow: observations by month (U.S.)
About Violet-green Swallow
The violet-green swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) is a small North American passerine bird in the swallow family. These aerial insectivores are distributed along the west coast from Alaska to Mexico, extending as far east as Montana and Texas. With an appearance very similar to the tree swallow, these individuals can be identified by the white rump side-patches that appear to separate their green back and purple tail. Violet-green swallows are secondary cavity nesters, found in a number...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Violet-green Swallow by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 5,997 | May | Mar–Jul |
| Washington | 2,237 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Oregon | 1,599 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Colorado | 1,452 | July | May–Jul |
| Arizona | 722 | May | Mar–Jul |
| Wyoming | 569 | June | May–Jul |
| New Mexico | 464 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Utah | 385 | May | May–Jul |
| Idaho | 302 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Montana | 298 | June | May–Jul |
| Alaska | 244 | June | May–Jul |
| Nevada | 135 | June | Apr–Jul |
| South Dakota | 89 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Texas | 74 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Nebraska | 23 | June | May–Jul |
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
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 Violet-green Swallow?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to July.
Where is Violet-green Swallow most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Washington, Oregon.