Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyHirundinidae (Swallows and Martins)
- GenusPetrochelidon (Cliff Swallows and Allies)
- SpeciesPetrochelidon pyrrhonota (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. Wikipedia →
20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Cliff Swallow sighting in Isla del Coco National Park, based on 36 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Isla del Coco National Park
Purple Martin
Progne subis
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Bank Swallow
Riparia riparia
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Cocos Finch
Pinaroloxias inornata
Cocos Flycatcher
Nesotriccus ridgwayi
Yellow Warbler
Setophaga petechia
Northern Waterthrush
Parkesia noveboracensis
Bobolink
Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Pheucticus ludovicianus
Connecticut Warbler
Oporornis agilis
Black-and-white Warbler
Mniotilta varia
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
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
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Cliff Swallow in Isla del Coco National Park?
About 23% of wildlife watchers report a Cliff Swallow sighting in Isla del Coco National Park, based on 36 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Cliff Swallow in Isla del Coco National Park?
September has the highest sighting rate for Cliff Swallow in Isla del Coco National Park in our monthly data.