Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyHirundinidae (Swallows and Martins)
- GenusTachycineta (Tachycineta Swallows)
- SpeciesTachycineta bicolor (Tree Swallow)
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 →
<5% of wildlife watchers report a Tree Swallow sighting in Ostional Wildlife Refuge, based on 6 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Ostional Wildlife Refuge
Mangrove Swallow
Tachycineta albilinea
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Gray-breasted Martin
Progne chalybea
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Southern Rough-winged Swallow
Stelgidopteryx ruficollis
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Bank Swallow
Riparia riparia
Purple Martin
Progne subis
Great Kiskadee
Pitangus sulphuratus
Rufous-backed Wren
Campylorhynchus capistratus
Great-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus mexicanus
Tropical Kingbird
Tyrannus melancholicus
📅 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 Tree Swallow in Ostional Wildlife Refuge?
About 1% of wildlife watchers report a Tree Swallow sighting in Ostional Wildlife Refuge, based on 6 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Tree Swallow in Ostional Wildlife Refuge?
October has the highest sighting rate for Tree Swallow in Ostional Wildlife Refuge in our monthly data.