Bird field guide · Swallows and Martins

Photographing the Violet-green Swallow

How to photograph the Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina): 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
Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
Photo: © MarvalPhotography19, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by MarvalPhotography19 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
19,226
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: 1% Feb Mar: 8% Mar Apr: 19% Apr May: 26% May Jun: 22% Jun Jul: 14% Jul Aug: 5% Aug Sep: 2% Sep Oct: 1% Oct Nov: 0% Nov Dec: 0% Dec
Share of iNaturalist observations by month across North America. Peak months: May and June.

About the Violet-green Swallow#

The violet-green swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) is a small North American passerine bird in the swallow family. These aerial insectivores are distributed along the west coast from Alaska to Mexico, extending as far east as Montana and Texas. With an appearance very similar to the tree swallow, these individuals can be identified by the white rump side-patches that appear to separate their green back and purple tail.

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.

More Swallows and Martins#

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

Frequently asked questions#

What lens do I need to photograph a Violet-green Swallow?

At about 16 cm long, a violet-green 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 Violet-green Swallow?

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

When is the best time to photograph a Violet-green Swallow?

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

Sources & licences#

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