Barn Swallow

Q: What are the chances of seeing a Barn Swallow in Golden Gate Highlands National Park?

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Barn Swallow sighting in Golden Gate Highlands National Park, based on 7 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

Q: When is the best time to see Barn Swallow in Golden Gate Highlands National Park?

December has the highest sighting rate for Barn Swallow in Golden Gate Highlands National Park in our monthly data.

Hirundo rustica

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
FamilyHirundinidae (Swallows and Martins)
GenusHirundo (Typical Swallows)
SpeciesHirundo rustica (Barn Swallow)

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

at Golden Gate Highlands National Park

7 Verified sightings at Golden Gate Highlands National Park From 2019 to 2026

121,583 Verified sightings across all 267 parks From 2019 to 2026

December Best month highest sighting rate

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Barn Swallow

The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) is the most widespread species of swallow in the world, occurring on all continents, with vagrants reported even in Antarctica. It is a distinctive passerine bird with blue upperparts and a long, deeply forked tail. In Anglophone Europe, it is just called the swallow; in northern Europe, it is the only member of family Hirundinidae called a "swallow" rather than a "martin".

There are eight subspecies of barn swallow, which breed across the Northern Hemisphere. Two subspecies (H. r. savignii and H. r. transitiva) have fairly restricted ranges in the Nile valley and eastern Mediterranean, respectively. The other six are more widespread, with winter ranges covering much of the Southern Hemisphere.

The barn swallow is a bird of open country that normally nests in man-made structures and consequently has spread with human expansion. It builds a cup nest from mud pellets in barns or similar structures and feeds on insects caught in flight. This species lives in close association with humans, and its insect-eating habits mean that it is tolerated by humans; this acceptance was reinforced in the past by superstitions regarding the bird and its nest. There are frequent cultural references to the barn swallow in literary and religious works due to both its living in close proximity to humans and its annual migration. The barn swallow is the national bird of Austria and Estonia. Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Hirundo albigularis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Ptyonoprogne fuligula

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Cecropis cucullata

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Riparia cincta

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Petrochelidon spilodera

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Riparia paludicola

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Cecropis abyssinica

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Lamprotornis bicolor

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Onychognathus morio

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Saxicola torquatus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Emberiza capensis

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

LC Endemic

Lanius collaris

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Point Pelee National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~70%
2	Fertő-Hanság National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	~60%
3	Biebrza National Park	🇵🇱 Poland	~60%
4	Doñana National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~50%
5	Monfragüe National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~50%
6	Meru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~50%
7	Hortobágy National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	~50%
8	Badlands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~50%
9	Yala National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	~50%
10	Białowieża National Park	🇵🇱 Poland	~50%
11	Kiskunság National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	~50%
12	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~50%
13	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~50%
14	Península Valdés	🇦🇷 Argentina	~40%
15	Kaziranga National Park	🇮🇳 India	~40%
16	Plitvice Lakes National Park	🇭🇷 Croatia	~40%
17	Sundarbans National Park	🇮🇳 India	~40%
18	Khao Yai National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	~40%
19	Riding Mountain National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~40%
20	Camargue	🇫🇷 France	~40%
21	Lake Nakuru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~40%
22	Queen Elizabeth National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~40%
23	Isla del Coco National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~40%
24	Cairngorms National Park	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	~40%
25	Awash National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	~40%
26	Cat Tien National Park	🇻🇳 Vietnam	~40%
27	Wadden Sea National Park	🇩🇪 Germany	~40%
28	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~30%
29	Snowdonia National Park	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	~30%
30	Lake Mburo National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~30%
31	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~30%
32	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~30%
33	Triglav National Park	🇸🇮 Slovenia	~30%
34	Kaeng Krachan National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	~30%
35	Channel Islands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~30%
36	Amboseli National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~30%
37	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~30%
38	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
39	Arusha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~30%
40	Redwood National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~30%
41	Wilpattu National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	~30%
42	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~30%
43	Aigüestortes National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~30%
44	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~30%
45	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~30%
46	Bavarian Forest National Park	🇩🇪 Germany	~30%
47	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~30%
48	Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~30%
49	Pyrénées National Park	🇫🇷 France	~30%
50	Grand Teton National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~30%
51	Samburu National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~30%
52	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~30%
53	Picos de Europa National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~30%
54	Sierra de Guadarrama National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~30%
55	Iberá National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	~30%
56	Murchison Falls National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~30%
57	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	~30%
58	Doi Inthanon National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	~20%
59	Addo Elephant National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~20%
60	Cévennes National Park	🇫🇷 France	~20%
61	Minneriya National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	~20%
62	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~20%
63	Nikko National Park	🇯🇵 Japan	~20%
64	Lago de Yojoa	🇭🇳 Honduras	~20%
65	Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
66	Hohe Tauern National Park	🇦🇹 Austria	~20%
67	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~20%
68	Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
69	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
70	Keoladeo National Park	🇮🇳 India	~20%
71	Las Baulas Marine National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
72	Tatra National Park	🇸🇰 Slovakia	~20%
73	Mikumi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~20%
74	Sierra Nevada National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~20%
75	Chitwan National Park	🇳🇵 Nepal	~20%
76	Banff National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~20%
77	Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~20%
78	Bandipur National Park	🇮🇳 India	~20%
79	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
80	Satpura National Park	🇮🇳 India	~20%
81	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~20%
82	Mkomazi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~20%
83	Jasper National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~20%
84	Garden Route National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~20%
85	Semuliki National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~20%
86	Niokolo-Koba National Park	🇸🇳 Senegal	~20%
87	Liwonde National Park	🇲🇼 Malawi	~20%
88	Kidepo Valley National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~20%
89	Aberdare National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~20%
90	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~20%
91	Pacific Rim National Park Reserve	🇨🇦 Canada	~20%
92	Horton Plains National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	~20%
93	Nagarhole National Park	🇮🇳 India	~20%
94	Moremi Game Reserve	🇧🇼 Botswana	~20%
95	Great Bear Rainforest	🇨🇦 Canada	~20%
96	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
97	Chobe National Park	🇧🇼 Botswana	~10%
98	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
99	Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary	🇲🇾 Malaysia	~10%
100	Kafue National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~10%
101	Shenandoah National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
102	Rocky Mountain National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
103	Lake Manyara National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
104	Khao Sok National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	~10%
105	Great Smoky Mountains National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
106	Royal Bardia National Park	🇳🇵 Nepal	~10%
107	Kibale National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~10%
108	Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
109	San Lorenzo Protected Forest	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
110	Olympic National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
111	Death Valley National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
112	Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~10%
113	Taroko National Park	🇹🇼 Taiwan	~10%
114	Wood Buffalo National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
115	Virunga National Park	🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo	~10%
116	Kluane National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
117	Gauja National Park	🇱🇻 Latvia	~10%
118	Namib-Naukluft National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	~10%
119	Yellowstone National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
120	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
121	Etosha National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	~10%
122	Mercantour National Park	🇫🇷 France	~10%
123	Mana Pools National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~10%
124	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
125	Pilanesberg National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
126	South Luangwa National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~10%
127	Mudumalai National Park	🇮🇳 India	~10%
128	Glacier National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
129	Jim Corbett National Park	🇮🇳 India	~10%
130	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
131	Elk Island National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
132	Raja Ampat	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~10%
133	Saguaro National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
134	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
135	El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
136	Ecrins National Park	🇫🇷 France	~10%
137	Table Mountain National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
138	Eravikulam National Park	🇮🇳 India	~10%
139	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
140	Way Kambas National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~10%
141	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
142	Big Bend National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
143	Cabo Pulmo National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
144	Kanha National Park	🇮🇳 India	~10%
145	Gorongosa National Park	🇲🇿 Mozambique	~10%
146	Golden Gate Highlands National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
147	Amacayacu National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~10%
148	Jaragua National Park	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	~10%
149	Cordillera Azul National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	~10%
150	Ciénaga de Zapata	🇨🇺 Cuba	~10%
151	Ostional Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
152	Sinharaja Forest Reserve	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	~10%
153	Biotopo Cerro Cahuí	🇬🇹 Guatemala	~10%
154	Bandhavgarh National Park	🇮🇳 India	~10%
155	Bwindi Impenetrable National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~10%
156	Ranthambore National Park	🇮🇳 India	~10%
157	Acadia National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
158	Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park	🇲🇳 Mongolia	~10%
159	Big Cypress National Preserve	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
160	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
161	El Triunfo	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
162	Coiba National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
163	Khao Luang National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	<5%
164	Irazú Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
165	Khangchendzonga National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
166	Cañón del Sumidero National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
167	Kerinci Seblat National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	<5%
168	Periyar National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
169	Los Haitises National Park	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	<5%
170	Lower Zambezi National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	<5%
171	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
172	Bale Mountains National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	<5%
173	Nyungwe National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	<5%
174	Kinabalu Park	🇲🇾 Malaysia	<5%
175	Cape Breton Highlands National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
176	Vanoise National Park	🇫🇷 France	<5%
177	Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
178	Yasuní National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
179	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
180	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
181	Lauca National Park	🇨🇱 Chile	<5%
182	Manas National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
183	Jiuzhaigou National Park	🇨🇳 China	<5%
184	Volcanoes National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	<5%
185	Langtang National Park	🇳🇵 Nepal	<5%
186	Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
187	Caroni Swamp	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	<5%
188	Bali Barat National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	<5%
189	Anavilhanas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
190	Gunung Leuser National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	<5%
191	Tikal National Park	🇬🇹 Guatemala	<5%
192	Masaya Volcano National Park	🇳🇮 Nicaragua	<5%
193	El Impenetrable National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	<5%
194	Sepilok	🇲🇾 Malaysia	<5%
195	Emas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
196	Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
197	Cusuco National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	<5%
198	Voyageurs National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
199	Tayrona National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
200	Congaree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
201	Taman Negara National Park	🇲🇾 Malaysia	<5%
202	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
203	Royal Manas National Park	🇧🇹 Bhutan	<5%
204	Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
205	Joshua Tree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
206	Paracas National Reserve	🇵🇪 Peru	<5%
207	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
208	Guadalupe Mountains National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
209	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
210	Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
211	Serra da Canastra National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
212	Cuc Phuong National Park	🇻🇳 Vietnam	<5%
213	Henri Pittier National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	<5%
214	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
215	Rincón de la Vieja National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
216	Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
217	Danum Valley Conservation Area	🇲🇾 Malaysia	<5%
218	Bahía de Loreto National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
219	Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park	🇯🇲 Jamaica	<5%
220	Nahuel Huapi National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	<5%
221	Tangkoko Nature Reserve	🇮🇩 Indonesia	<5%
222	Galápagos Islands	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
223	Grand Canyon National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
224	Namdapha National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
225	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
226	Chingaza National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
227	Podocarpus National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
228	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
229	Chirripó National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
230	Sierra de la Macarena National Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
231	Daintree National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	<5%
232	Zion National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
233	Tierra del Fuego National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	<5%
234	Yosemite National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
235	Vatnajokull National Park	🇮🇸 Iceland	<5%
236	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
237	Los Quetzales National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
238	Iguazú National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	<5%
239	Tambopata National Reserve	🇵🇪 Peru	<5%
240	Iguaçu National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
241	Farallones de Cali National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
242	Los Nevados National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
243	Tanjung Puting National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	Insufficient data
244	Bako National Park	🇲🇾 Malaysia	Insufficient data
245	Waterberg Plateau Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	Insufficient data
246	Gir National Park	🇮🇳 India	Insufficient data
247	Nahanni National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	Insufficient data
248	Celaque National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	Insufficient data
249	Selous Game Reserve	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
250	Amboró National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	Insufficient data
251	La Tigra National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	Insufficient data
252	Brownsberg Nature Park	🇸🇷 Suriname	Insufficient data
253	El Palmar National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	Insufficient data
254	Chapada Diamantina National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	Insufficient data
255	Katmai National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data
256	Ranomafana National Park	🇲🇬 Madagascar	Insufficient data
257	Madidi National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	Insufficient data
258	Wrangell-St. Elias National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data
259	Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	🇧🇿 Belize	Insufficient data
260	Machalilla National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	Insufficient data
261	Isle Royale National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data
262	Pico Bonito National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	Insufficient data
263	Poás Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
264	Canaima National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	Insufficient data
265	Torres del Paine National Park	🇨🇱 Chile	Insufficient data
266	Kenai Fjords National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data
267	Gros Morne National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Barn Swallow in Golden Gate Highlands National Park?

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Barn Swallow sighting in Golden Gate Highlands National Park, based on 7 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Barn Swallow in Golden Gate Highlands National Park?

December has the highest sighting rate for Barn Swallow in Golden Gate Highlands National Park in our monthly data.

← Back to Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Barn Swallow

About the Barn Swallow

Closest Relatives at Golden Gate Highlands National Park

White-throated Swallow

Rock Martin

Greater Striped-Swallow

Banded Martin

South African Swallow

Plain Martin

Lesser Striped-Swallow

Pied Starling

Red-winged Starling

African Stonechat

Cape Bunting

Southern Fiscal

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Quick answers