Violet-green Swallow
Violet-green SwallowViolet-green SwallowViolet-green SwallowViolet-green Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Tachycineta thalassina

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Saguaro National Park
1,733 Verified sightings at Saguaro National Park From 2019 to 2026
28,774 Verified sightings across all 41 parks From 2019 to 2026
October Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the 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 of habitats including deciduous and coniferous forest. In addition to nesting in tree holes within these habitats, they are also widely observed nesting in the cracks of large cliffs.

The distinct body form of swallows distinguishes them from other passerine birds. Their long pointed wings and slim, streamlined body evolved to catch insects while in flight; the violet-green swallow is no exception. With an average body length of 12–13 cm (4.7–5.1 in), the violet-green swallow is slightly shorter and appears more compact in flight compared to some other members of the genus Tachycineta. The violet-green swallow most closely resembles the tree swallow T. bicolor, but can be distinguished... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Saguaro National Park

Tree Swallow
LC

Tree Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tachycineta bicolor

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
LC

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Barn Swallow
LC

Barn Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo rustica

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Purple Martin
LC

Purple Martin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Progne subis

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

Cliff Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

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

Bank Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Riparia riparia

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Verdin
LC

Verdin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Auriparus flaviceps

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely
House Finch
LC Endemic

House Finch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haemorhous mexicanus

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely
Lesser Goldfinch
LC

Lesser Goldfinch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spinus psaltria

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Abert's Towhee
LC

Abert's Towhee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melozone aberti

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Vermilion Flycatcher
LC

Vermilion Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pyrocephalus rubinus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Curve-billed Thrasher
LC

Curve-billed Thrasher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Toxostoma curvirostre

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

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 Grand Canyon National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~40%
2 Rocky Mountain National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~40%
3 Yellowstone National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~40%
4 Grand Teton National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~30%
5 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~30%
6 Kluane National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~20%
7 Badlands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
8 Guadalupe Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
9 Banff National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~20%
10 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
11 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
12 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 🇨🇦 Canada
~20%
13 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
14 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
15 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
16 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
17 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
18 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
19 Glacier National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
20 Kenai Fjords National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
21 Jasper National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
22 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
23 Nahanni National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
24 Gates of the Arctic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
25 Celaque National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~10%
26 Denali National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
27 Cabo Pulmo National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
28 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
29 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
30 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
31 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
32 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
33 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
34 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
35 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
36 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
37 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
38 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
39 Katmai National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
40 La Tigra National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
41 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Violet-green Swallow in Saguaro National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Violet-green Swallow sighting in Saguaro National Park, based on 1,733 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Violet-green Swallow in Saguaro National Park?

October has the highest sighting rate for Violet-green Swallow in Saguaro National Park in our monthly data.

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