Birds of North Carolina
their Distribution and Abundance
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
HIRUNDINIDAE Members: Cave Swallow 388
General Comments
Hardly any bird has expanded its breeding range in the United States in recent years as has the Cave Swallow. A few decades ago, one had to go to a select few culverts in south Texas to be sure to find them. However, they are now nesting over much of the majority of that state, and migrants often end up heading eastward to the Atlantic coast, rather than southward. The first state record did not come until 1987; but since 2000, they have been routinely recorded along and near the North Carolina coast, always in late fall or early winter, though few if any are able to survive the entire winter. Because this flight occurs long after Cliff Swallows are gone, one never has a chance for direct comparison of the two; however, this makes mis-identifications unlikely. Cave Swallows are often seen in flocks of Tree Swallows, but at times are found by themselves - most are seen close to tidal water, such as flying down beaches or sounds in "southbound" migration, but some are seen around catfish ponds and other lakes and impoundments near the coast. Fall and winter 2023-24 had barely one or two reports, but fall 2024 into the winter had dozens of reports, mostly along the immediate coast.
Breeding Status
Nonbreeder
NC BRC List
Definitive
State Status
none
U.S. Status
Definitive
State Rank
SZ
Global Rank
G5
Coastal Plain
Fall transient, and straggler into early winter, essentially along the coast; greatly increasing in numbers and records through about 2012; however, numbers have leveled off or declined since about 2015, except for a boom again in fall and early winter 2024. Currently, rare to (at times) uncommon along the coast, as well as in Tidewater. The only far inland record is six at the Goldsboro (Wayne) Water Treatment Plant on 14 Nov 2025. Mainly very late Oct or early Nov to mid-Dec, and sparingly into early Jan. Other records are one near Sneads Ferry (Onslow) on 5 Feb 1995; two at Carolina Beach SP (New Hanover) on 21 Mar 2023; five at Cape Hatteras Point (Dare) on 5 Apr 2025; and one at Pea Island NWR on 19 May 1995, seen by excellent observers. High counts: 85, Tidewater Research Station in Roper (Washington), 17 Nov 2007 (Chat 72:34-35); 60, Sunset Beach (Brunswick), 12 Dec 2024; 33, North Topsail Beach (Onslow), 8 Nov 2012 (Chat 77:30).
Piedmont
Casual, with four records: a single bird seen at Troutman (Iredell) on 20 Dec 1999 (Chat 64:106), (Chat 65:85); a single bird over the UNC soccer fields in Chapel Hill, 1 Nov 2011 (Chat 76:33); a juvenile photographed at Cane Creek Reservoir (Orange), 2 Dec 2015 (Chat 80:90); and two at Falls Lake (Durham) on 2 Dec 2024 with one still present as late as 12 Dec.
Mountain
Casual in migration, with reports having yet to be reviewed by the NC BRC. One was photographed and observed by several birders at Ecusta Pond (Transylvania) on 26 Mar 2020 (Chat 84:99). This is a remarkable record if accepted, as not only was there no previous mountain record, but no previous spring record for the state. Another individual was reported at this same pond, this time on 10 Mar 2022 (Chat 86:85); this also is expected to be reviewed by the NC BRC. At this same pond, one was found on 22 Oct 2024. Perhaps the same bird was again noted there on 20 Mar 2025.
Finding Tips
There are no consistent spots for seeing fall and early winter migrants, as they can be seen flying along the beaches and sounds along the southernmost coast, usually with Tree Swallows. In late fall and winter 2024-25, a consistent site was Twin Lakes at Sunset Beach (Brunswick), where a few dozen birds roosted on house rooftops for several weeks.