The Bank Swallow is the smallest swallow in North America and the only one that excavates its own nesting burrows, digging horizontal tunnels up to two feet deep in sandy riverbanks or road cuts. Colonies can contain hundreds to thousands of burrows. It is the most widely distributed swallow in the world, breeding across the Northern Hemisphere.
Best time to see a Bank Swallow
The best time to see a Bank Swallow is April–August, when about 63% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 31,883 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Bank Swallow? What bird is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Bank Swallow sightings near you
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Spotted a Bank Swallow?
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