Cave Swallow
Cave SwallowCave SwallowCave SwallowCave Swallow

Cave Swallow

Petrochelidon fulva

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
<5% · Rare
overall probability at Acadia National Park
14 Verified records at Acadia National Park
November Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The cave swallow (Petrochelidon fulva) is a medium-sized, squarish-tailed swallow belonging to the same genus as the more familiar and widespread cliff swallow of North America. The cave swallow, also native to the Americas, nests and roosts primarily in caves and sinkholes. Cave swallows are found in Mexico and the Greater Antilles, with fall and winter vagrants reaching the east and Gulf Coasts of the U.S. Breeding colonies occur in south-eastern New Mexico, Texas, Florida, the Greater Antilles, portions of southern Mexico, and along the west coast of South America. Five subspecies are currently recognized according to Birds of North America, three occurring in North America and two in South America. Wikipedia →

<5% of wildlife watchers report a Cave Swallow sighting in Acadia National Park, based on 14 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Acadia National Park

Cliff Swallow
LC

Cliff Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

<5% · Rare
Tree Swallow
LC

Tree Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tachycineta bicolor

5–10% · With luck
Barn Swallow
LC

Barn Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo rustica

5–10% · With luck
Bank Swallow
LC

Bank Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Riparia riparia

<5% · Rare
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
LC

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

<5% · Rare
American Crow
LC

American Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus brachyrhynchos

80–90% · Very likely
Black-capped Chickadee
LC

Black-capped Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile atricapillus

60–70% · Likely
Song Sparrow
LC Endemic

Song Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melospiza melodia

60–70% · Likely
American Goldfinch
LC

American Goldfinch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spinus tristis

50–60% · Likely
Blue Jay
LC

Blue Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanocitta cristata

50–60% · Likely
Red-breasted Nuthatch
LC

Red-breasted Nuthatch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sitta canadensis

40–50% · Likely
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

40–50% · Likely

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
<5
Mar
<5
Apr
<5
May
<5
Jun
<5
Jul
<5
Aug
<5
Sep
<5
Oct
<5
Nov
<5
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

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 Probability
1 Los Haitises National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
10–20%
2 Ciénaga de Zapata 🇨🇺 Cuba
10–20%
3 Jaragua National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
5–10%
4 Cumbres de Monterrey National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
5 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
6 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
7 Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park 🇯🇲 Jamaica
<5%
8 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
9 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
10 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
11 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
12 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
13 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
14 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
15 Guadalupe Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
16 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
17 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
18 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
19 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Cave Swallow in Acadia National Park?

About 0% of wildlife watchers report a Cave Swallow sighting in Acadia National Park, based on 14 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Cave Swallow in Acadia National Park?

November has the highest sighting rate for Cave Swallow in Acadia National Park in our monthly data.

← Back to Acadia National Park