Tree Swallow
Tree SwallowTree SwallowTree SwallowTree Swallow

Tree Swallow

Tachycineta bicolor

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
1,092 Verified records at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
April Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) is a migratory bird of the family Hirundinidae. Found in the Americas, the tree swallow was first described in 1807 by French ornithologist Louis Vieillot as Hirundo bicolor. It has since been moved to its current genus, Tachycineta, within which its phylogenetic placement is debated. The tree swallow has glossy blue-green upperparts, with the exception of the blackish wings and tail, and white underparts. The bill is black, the eyes dark brown, and the legs and feet pale brown. The female is generally duller than the male, and the first-year female has mostly brown upperparts, with some blue feathers. Wikipedia →

10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Tree Swallow sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, based on 1,092 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Barn Swallow
LC

Barn Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo rustica

10–20% · With luck
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
LC

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

5–10% · With luck
Cliff Swallow
LC

Cliff Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

5–10% · With luck
Purple Martin
LC

Purple Martin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Progne subis

<5% · Rare
Bank Swallow
LC

Bank Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Riparia riparia

<5% · Rare
American Crow
LC

American Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus brachyrhynchos

70–80% · Very likely
Northern Cardinal
LC Endemic

Northern Cardinal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cardinalis cardinalis

70–80% · Very likely
Carolina Wren
LC

Carolina Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thryothorus ludovicianus

70–80% · Very likely
Carolina Chickadee
LC Endemic

Carolina Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile carolinensis

70–80% · Very likely
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

60–70% · Likely
Tufted Titmouse
LC

Tufted Titmouse

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Baeolophus bicolor

60–70% · Likely
Blue Jay
LC

Blue Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanocitta cristata

50–60% · Likely

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
20–30
Mar
30–40
Apr
20–30
May
20–30
Jun
10–20
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 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
70–80%
2 Yellowstone National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
3 Kluane National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
30–40%
4 Elk Island National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
30–40%
5 Grand Teton National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
6 Katmai National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
7 Glacier National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
8 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
20–30%
9 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
10 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
11 Riding Mountain National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
20–30%
12 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
13 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
14 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
15 Rocky Mountain National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
16 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
17 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
18 Banff National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
19 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
10–20%
20 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
21 Badlands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
22 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
23 Ciénaga de Zapata 🇨🇺 Cuba
10–20%
24 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
25 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
10–20%
26 Jasper National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
5–10%
27 Gates of the Arctic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
28 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
29 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
5–10%
30 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
5–10%
31 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
32 Voyageurs National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
33 Kenai Fjords National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
34 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
35 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
36 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
37 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
38 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
39 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
40 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
41 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
42 Grand Canyon National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
43 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
44 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
45 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
46 Denali National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
47 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
48 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
49 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
50 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
51 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
52 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
53 Cumbres de Monterrey National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
54 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
55 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
56 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
57 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
58 Nahanni National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
59 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 🇬🇹 Guatemala
Insufficient data
60 La Tigra National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
61 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
62 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
63 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
Insufficient data
64 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
65 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Tree Swallow in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

About 15% of wildlife watchers report a Tree Swallow sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, based on 1,092 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Tree Swallow in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

April has the highest sighting rate for Tree Swallow in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in our monthly data.

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