Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
FamilyHirundinidae (Swallows and Martins)
GenusPetrochelidon (Cliff Swallows and Allies)
SpeciesPetrochelidon pyrrhonota (Cliff Swallow)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve

1 Verified sightings at El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve From 2019 to 2026

7,191 Verified sightings across all 80 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ 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 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve

Tachycineta thalassina

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Hirundo rustica

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Tachycineta albilinea

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Tachycineta bicolor

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Progne subis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Mimus polyglottos

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Haemorhous mexicanus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Passerculus sandwichensis

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Corvus corax

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Leiothlypis celata

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Setophaga coronata

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

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

← Back to El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve

Cliff Swallow

About the Cliff Swallow

Recent sightings of Cliff Swallow in El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve

Closest Relatives at El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve

Violet-green Swallow

Barn Swallow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Mangrove Swallow

Tree Swallow

Purple Martin

Northern Mockingbird

House Finch

Savannah Sparrow

Common Raven

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found