Cave Swallow
Cave SwallowCave SwallowCave SwallowCave Swallow

Cave Swallow

Petrochelidon fulva

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at Ciénaga de Zapata
233 Verified records at Ciénaga de Zapata
July 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 →

10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Cave Swallow sighting in Ciénaga de Zapata, based on 233 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Ciénaga de Zapata

Tree Swallow
LC

Tree Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tachycineta bicolor

10–20% · With luck
Barn Swallow
LC

Barn Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo rustica

5–10% · With luck
Cuban Martin
LC Endemic

Cuban Martin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Progne cryptoleuca

<5% · Rare
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
LC

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

<5% · Rare
Purple Martin
LC

Purple Martin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Progne subis

Insufficient data
American Redstart
LC

American Redstart

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga ruticilla

60–70% · Likely
Red-legged Thrush
LC Endemic

Red-legged Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus plumbeus

60–70% · Likely
Palm Warbler
LC

Palm Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga palmarum

60–70% · Likely
Greater Antillean Grackle
LC Endemic

Greater Antillean Grackle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quiscalus niger

50–60% · Likely
Cuban Pewee
LC

Cuban Pewee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Contopus caribaeus

50–60% · Likely
Cuban Blackbird

Cuban Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dives atroviolaceus

50–60% · Likely
Tawny-shouldered Blackbird
LC Endemic

Tawny-shouldered Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Agelaius humeralis

50–60% · Likely

📅 Monthly Probability

5–10
Jan
10–20
Feb
10–20
Mar
10–20
Apr
30–40
May
20–30
Jun
30–40
Jul
10–20
Aug
20–30
Sep
<5
Oct
20–30
Nov
5–10
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 Ciénaga de Zapata?

About 14% of wildlife watchers report a Cave Swallow sighting in Ciénaga de Zapata, based on 233 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Cave Swallow in Ciénaga de Zapata?

July has the highest sighting rate for Cave Swallow in Ciénaga de Zapata in our monthly data.

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