Bird field guide · Swallows and Martins

Photographing the Tree Swallow

How to photograph the Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor): the right lens for its size, shutter speeds for perched and moving animals, and when it's most often seen (April and May).

12–20 cm1/3200–1/4000 s
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
Photo: no rights reserved, uploaded by Carter Dorscht via iNaturalist
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
82,142
Research-grade sightings in N. America
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.

Distance⅓ of frame (FF)½ of frame (FF)⅓ of frame (APS-C)⅓ of frame (MFT)
5 m (16 ft)346 mm506 mm230 mm173 mm
10 m (33 ft)691 mm1,011 mm461 mm346 mm
15 m (49 ft)1,037 mm1,517 mm691 mm518 mm
20 m (66 ft)1,382 mm2,022 mm922 mm691 mm
30 m (98 ft)2,074 mm3,034 mm1,382 mm1,037 mm
50 m (164 ft)3,456 mm5,056 mm2,304 mm1,728 mm

When to find it#

Jan: 1% Jan Feb: 2% Feb Mar: 7% Mar Apr: 27% Apr May: 35% May Jun: 17% Jun Jul: 6% Jul Aug: 2% Aug Sep: 1% Sep Oct: 1% Oct Nov: 1% Nov Dec: 1% Dec
Share of iNaturalist observations by month across North America. Peak months: April and May.

About the Tree Swallow#

The tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) is a migratory passerine bird that breeds in North America and winters in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. It is a very rare vagrant to western Europe.

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 April and May, 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.

More Swallows and Martins#

Barn Swallow Barn SwallowHirundo rustica Cliff Swallow Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonota Northern Rough-winged SwallowStelgidopteryx serripennis Purple Martin Purple MartinProgne subis Violet-green Swallow Violet-green SwallowTachycineta thalassina Bank Swallow Bank SwallowRiparia riparia

Frequently asked questions#

What lens do I need to photograph a Tree Swallow?

At about 16 cm long, a tree swallow fills a third of a full-frame image at 10 m with roughly 691 mm, or at 20 m with 1,382 mm.

What shutter speed should I use for a Tree Swallow?

1/1600 s when it's still; 1/3200–1/4000 s for action.

When is the best time to photograph a Tree Swallow?

Observations in North America peak in April and May. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and activity.

Sources & licences#

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources