Bird field guide · Swallows and Martins

Photographing the Cliff Swallow

How to photograph the Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota): the right lens for its size, shutter speeds for perched and moving animals, and when it's most often seen (May and June).

12–20 cm1/3200–1/4000 s

12–20 cm

Typical length (family range)

1/1600 s

Shutter: perched / still

1/3200–1/4000 s

Shutter: action / flight

f/5.6–f/8

Aperture

33,349

Research-grade sightings in N. America

Recommended camera settings#

ModeManual + Auto ISOLock shutter & aperture, let ISO float

Shutter (still)1/1600 s

Shutter (action)1/3200–1/4000 s

Aperturef/5.6–f/8

FocusAF-C + subject/eye detectionSwallows and swifts are the hardest flight subjects — use wide tracking AF and shoot where they repeat a pattern.

DriveHigh-speed burst

Lens400–600 mmFull-frame equivalent

Focal length needed to frame it#

For a subject about 16 cm long filling a third or half of the frame width horizontally. Small birds demand long lenses and a close approach — a blind or feeder setup helps.

Distance	⅓ of frame (FF)	½ of frame (FF)	⅓ of frame (APS-C)	⅓ of frame (MFT)
5 m (16 ft)	346 mm	506 mm	230 mm	173 mm
10 m (33 ft)	691 mm	1,011 mm	461 mm	346 mm
15 m (49 ft)	1,037 mm	1,517 mm	691 mm	518 mm
20 m (66 ft)	1,382 mm	2,022 mm	922 mm	691 mm
30 m (98 ft)	2,074 mm	3,034 mm	1,382 mm	1,037 mm
50 m (164 ft)	3,456 mm	5,056 mm	2,304 mm	1,728 mm

When to find it#

Share of iNaturalist observations by month across North America. Peak months: May and June.

About the Cliff Swallow#

The American cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) is a member of the passerine bird family Hirundinidae consisting of both swallow and martin species. The scientific name is derived from Ancient Greek; Petrochelidon originates from the petros meaning "rock" and khelidon "swallow", pyrrhonota comes from purrhos meaning "flame-coloured" and -notos "-backed".

Summary adapted from Wikipedia via iNaturalist (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Field-craft tips#

Photograph at nest sites or over water where they hunt insects.
Swallows and swifts are the hardest flight subjects — use wide tracking AF and shoot where they repeat a pattern.
Sightings peak in May and June, which is when you'll have the most chances.

Ethics#

The welfare of the animal comes first: if it changes its behaviour because of you, you are too close.
Stay on trails, respect closures around nests, leks, dens and haul-outs.
Avoid playback and baiting in sensitive seasons; never bait predators.
Don't share precise locations of rare, nesting or roosting animals publicly.