Cliff Swallow
Cliff SwallowCliff SwallowCliff SwallowCliff Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
at Badlands National Park
1,281 Verified sightings at Badlands National Park From 2019 to 2026
7,191 Verified sightings across all 80 parks From 2019 to 2026
June Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Cliff Swallow

The cliff swallow or American cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) is a member of the passerine bird family Hirundinidae, the swallows and martins. The generic name Petrochelidon is derived from the Ancient Greek petros meaning "stone" and khelidon (χελιδών) "swallow", and the specific name pyrrhonota comes from purrhos meaning "flame-coloured" and -notos "-backed".

Cliff swallows are extremely social songbirds that can be found in large nesting colonies reaching over 2,000 nests. They are frequently seen flying overhead in large flocks during migration, gracefully foraging over fields for flying insects or perching tightly together on a wire preening under the sun.

Cliff swallows build gourd-shaped nests made from mud with small entrance holes. They build their nests tightly together, on top of one another, under bridges or alongside mountain cliffs. Living in large populations, these aerial insectivores use extensive vocalizations to communicate warnings or food availability to the other individuals.

The cliff swallow's average body length is 13 cm (5.1 in), and they have short legs and small bills with relatively long pointed wings. Adult cliff swallows have... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Badlands National Park

Barn Swallow
LC

Barn Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo rustica

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Violet-green Swallow
LC

Violet-green Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tachycineta thalassina

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Tree Swallow
LC

Tree Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tachycineta bicolor

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
LC

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Bank Swallow
LC

Bank Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Riparia riparia

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Purple Martin
LC

Purple Martin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Progne subis

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Western Meadowlark
LC

Western Meadowlark

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sturnella neglecta

Daily sighting probability ~90% · Very likely
Rock Wren
LC

Rock Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Salpinctes obsoletus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Red-winged Blackbird
LC

Red-winged Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Agelaius phoeniceus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Horned Lark
LC

Horned Lark

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Eremophila alpestris

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Say's Phoebe
LC

Say's Phoebe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sayornis saya

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Lark Sparrow
LC

Lark Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chondestes grammacus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Isla del Coco National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
2 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
3 Emas National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
~10%
4 Iberá National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
~10%
5 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
6 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
7 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
8 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
9 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
10 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
11 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
12 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
13 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
14 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
15 Serra da Canastra National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
16 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
17 Darién National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
18 Irazú Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
19 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
20 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
21 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
22 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
23 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
24 Lauca National Park 🇨🇱 Chile
<5%
25 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
26 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
27 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
28 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
29 Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
30 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
31 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
32 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
33 Parque Natural Metropolitano 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
34 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
35 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
36 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
37 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
38 Marino Ballena National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
39 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
40 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
41 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
42 Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
43 Yasuní National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
44 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
45 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
46 Tikal National Park 🇬🇹 Guatemala
<5%
47 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
48 Denali National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
49 Iguazú National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
<5%
50 Galápagos Islands 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
51 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
52 Los Quetzales National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
53 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
54 Chapada Diamantina National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
Insufficient data
55 San Lorenzo Protected Forest 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
56 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 🇬🇹 Guatemala
Insufficient data
57 El Impenetrable National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
Insufficient data
58 La Tigra National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
59 Celaque National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
60 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
61 Coiba National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
62 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
63 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
64 Chingaza National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
65 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
66 Chapada dos Guimarães National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
Insufficient data
67 Masaya Volcano National Park 🇳🇮 Nicaragua
Insufficient data
68 Amacayacu National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
69 Itatiaia National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
Insufficient data
70 Madidi National Park 🇧🇴 Bolivia
Insufficient data
71 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
72 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
73 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
74 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
Insufficient data
75 Iguaçu National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
Insufficient data
76 Tayrona National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
77 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
78 Sierra de la Macarena National Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
79 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
80 Los Nevados National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Cliff Swallow in Badlands National Park?

About 60% of wildlife watchers report a Cliff Swallow sighting in Badlands National Park, based on 1,281 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Cliff Swallow in Badlands National Park?

June has the highest sighting rate for Cliff Swallow in Badlands National Park in our monthly data.

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