Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick Pattern | Examples & Trading

Johannes Striegel
Fact checked by: Johannes Gresham
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Concealing Baby Swallow Example

The Concealing Baby Swallow is a four-candle formation that signals exhaustion of the current trend and hints at a sharp reversal. It can form as a bullish or bearish structure, depending on trend context, and is made up of two Marubozu candles followed by a smaller engulfed candle. The final fourth bar completely dominates the previous engulfed candle’s range, showing that the dominant side has overwhelmed the trend and taken control of the momentum.

The pattern is rare, but when it does appear in the right context, it leads to a strong shift in direction. It’s commonly used at the end of a move, where the chart shows signs of pressure building and a trap being set against those positioned late into the trend. The engulfment at the end of the structure acts as a trigger that confirms a rejection of continuation and favors the beginning of an opposing move.

Traders use the Concealing Baby Swallow pattern to anticipate sharp reversals at the end of strong trends, entering against the prevailing momentum once confirmation is in place. Some of its benefits are: It shows when a strong move is running out of momentum, it gives a clear point to enter and place a stop-loss, and its success rate increases when it forms near support or resistance.

We’ve worked with this pattern across different markets and timeframes, and while it doesn’t show up often, the setup has a high success rate of 75% when structure, volume, and sentiment align. Our guide shows you how both bullish and bearish versions form, how to identify them clearly, and how to build trading strategies around the shift they signal.

What Is A Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Pattern?

The Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow is a four-candle reversal formation that develops during the final stretch of a strong downtrend. The first two candles are large-bodied red Marubozu candles, showing heavy, one-sided selling. The third candle opens lower and briefly pushes higher, forming a noticeable upper shadow that shows an attempt by buyers to regain control.

Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick Pattern spotting Chart
Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick Pattern

The fourth candle opens near the previous close and fully engulfs the entire body and wick of the third candle, closing higher than the third candle’s high and signaling that the previous selling pressure has been completely absorbed. Even though all four candles are red, the strength of the fourth candle and its engulfment indicate a shift in momentum. 

Sellers begin to lose control as buyers step in aggressively, overpowering the final wave of selling with conviction. When this setup forms near a key support zone or after a long, stretched leg lower, it can provide a high probability signal for a sharp upside reversal.

Key Facts About The Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick Pattern:

  • Type of Pattern: 4-candle bullish reversal pattern.
  • Construction Characteristics:
  • Candle 1: Large red Marubozu candle with no upper shadow, showing strong selling.
  • Candle 2: Another red Marubozu candle that continues the move without hesitation.
  • Candle 3: Small red candle with a long upper wick, showing buying that fails by the close.
  • Candle 4: Large red candle that opens below and closes above the high of candle 3, engulfing it entirely.
  • Trend Prior to Pattern: Forms during heavy selling pressure with minimal interruption from buyers.
  • Trade Forecast: Signals a likely upside reversal as sellers lose momentum and buyers reclaim control.
  • Interpretation: The engulfing structure exposes a failure in bearish follow-through and suggests a change in trend direction.
  • Stop Loss Placement: Best placed below the low of the engulfing fourth candle to limit downside risk.
  • Opposite Pattern: Bearish Concealing Baby Swallow.
  • Success Rate: 75%.

What Is a Bearish Concealing Baby Swallow Pattern?

The Bearish Concealing Baby Swallow forms when a bullish trend loses its strength near a top, and the structure begins to signal rejection rather than continuation. The pattern opens with two tall green Marubozu candles that move with momentum and leave no indication of resistance. On the third candle, the price extends upward again but leaves behind a long lower wick and a small-bodied close that shows early weakness in buyer commitment. 

Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick Pattern spotting in the Chart
Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick Pattern

The fourth candle opens above the third’s range and completely swallows its body and shadow, closing below the third candle’s low and confirming that buying has failed to progress. This reversal is subtle at first since every candle in the structure remains green, creating the image that buyers are still in control. 

However, the engulfing of the final candle cuts through the earlier momentum and clearly reflects a change in pressure. The pattern catches many traders off guard because the color consistency hides the reversal until the engulfment finalizes the breakdown. 

Key Facts About The Bearish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick Pattern:

  • Type of Pattern: 4-candle bearish reversal.
  • Construction Characteristics:
  • Candle 1: Tall green Marubozu candle with strong bullish momentum.
  • Candle 2: Another green Marubozu candle that continues the upward extension.
  • Candle 3: Small green candle with a long lower wick, showing price rejection at lower levels.
  • Candle 4: Large green candle that opens above and closes below the low of Candle 3, engulfing its full range.
  • Trend Prior to Pattern: Occurs during aggressive bullish rallies where buyers maintain control for multiple candles.
  • Trade Forecast: Indicates a downside reversal after the bullish continuation fails to extend.
  • Interpretation: The engulfing candle reveals a loss of momentum and a transition in control from buyers to sellers.
  • Stop Loss Placement: Should be positioned just above the high of the engulfing fourth candle to manage risk.
  • Opposite Pattern: Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow.
  • Success Rate: 75%.

How Does a Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick Pattern Form?

The Concealing Baby Swallow pattern forms during the late stages of a strong trend, when the price has been moving aggressively in one direction with little interruption. In the bullish version, it appears near the end of a sharp downtrend, while the bearish version shows up after an extended rally. 

Form of Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick
Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick Form

The pattern takes shape over four candles in any timeframe and is defined more by structure than the color of the candles. In both versions, the third candle attempts to reject the trend with a long wick, but the final engulfing candle shows that the market is preparing to move in the opposite direction.

This pattern shows a moment of indecision that is quickly followed by a strong reaction in the opposite direction. The price action becomes compressed as momentum fades, and the engulfing move confirms the transition. Since the candles are the same color throughout, the change is easy to miss without reading the structure correctly.

What Does the Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick Pattern Mean?

The Concealing Baby Swallow pattern shows when a trend has lost its strength, even if the red or green candles make it seem like nothing has changed. In both the bullish and bearish versions, the first two candles of the structure show strong momentum, but the third candle begins to show hesitation. The final candle then takes control and erases the previous candle’s range completely. That engulfing move is what turns a trending structure into a potential reversal.

In the bullish setup, sellers are in control until the third candle shows rejection through a long upper wick. When the fourth candle opens strong and swallows the previous move, it signals that buyers are starting to take over. The bearish version works the same way in reverse. Buyers run out of strength, the third candle fails to hold, and the final engulfing candle marks the shift back toward selling. 

Stronger near known levels

The pattern means one side has lost control, and the other is stepping in with more pressure, leading to either more selling or buying depending on the variation. If that change happens near a known level, the meaning becomes stronger.

Where does the name of the Concealing Baby Swallow Pattern Come From?

The name comes from how the Concealing Baby Swallow pattern hides a reversal inside what looks like a regular trend continuation. It’s called “concealing” because the candles are all the same color, which makes the shift in direction less noticeable at first. The “baby swallow” part comes from the final candle that completely covers or “swallows” the smaller third candle, showing that the earlier push has been rejected and momentum is starting to turn.

Example of the Concealing Baby Swallow Pattern in the Chart (Find Example With Prices)

Below you can see the Example of a Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick in the Apple Stock. The first two Candles are long and red. The third candle has a small body with a longer wick and shodow.

Example of a Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick
Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick Example

The fourth Candle opens above the third Candle and engulfs it the full way and closes below the third Candle. The bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick is formed.

How to Identify a Concealing Baby Swallow Candle in the Chart?

To identify the Concealing Baby Swallow pattern, begin with the broader trend based on the variation you are looking for. In a bullish setup, the chart should show a strong downtrend made up of wide red candles and little upward movement. In a bearish setup, look for a solid uptrend where the price moves steadily with large green candles and few signs of weakness. 

The pattern does not form in sideways markets or during consolidation, so the structure should clearly support the direction that came before it. The pattern contains four candles that follow a specific structure, each contributing to the buildup, hesitation, and eventual reversal in momentum within the ongoing trend.

The first two show clean momentum in the trend’s direction with full-bodied Marubozu candles. The third candle breaks the flow slightly by showing a long wick against the trend, which hints at pressure from the other side. The fourth candle then fully engulfs the third, including both the body and the wick. Any deviation from this candle structure weakens the signal and reduces its reliability or means it’s no longer a valid Concealing Baby Swallow pattern.

How to Trade the Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick Pattern?

The Concealing Baby Swallow pattern only becomes useful when applied in a structured trading plan that respects trend context and clear setup conditions. It should never be traded on its own or in isolation from market structure because the meaning behind the candles depends entirely on what came before them. 

To make the pattern tradable, you must break the process into five specific steps:

  1. Find the Right Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick Pattern Setup
  2. Wait for the Appearance of the Concealing Baby Swallow Candle
  3. Open Your Trade – Entry Point 
  4. Wait For A Confirmation Or Not
  5. Choose Your Trading Take Profit 

1. Find the Right Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick Pattern Setup

Only consider the Concealing Baby Swallow when the trend is clear, and the candles leading into the pattern reflect strong directional movement without major interruptions. Let’s break down both the bullish and bearish versions:

Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow:

In the bullish version, the price must be declining steadily with clean red candles, without overlapping wicks or signals of consolidation. This version is most effective near the base of the downtrend, where sellers have been pressing lower for several candles without a break. When the move begins to lose momentum and the third candle starts to show rejection, the structure becomes more meaningful.

  • Appears after a long stretch of red candles in a clean downtrend.
  • Works best near exhaustion lows, broken support levels, or demand zones.
  • Becomes stronger when volume fades before the pattern and then increases after the engulfment.

Bearish Concealing Baby Swallow:

For the bearish version, the pattern must appear after several large green candles have pushed the market upward without much resistance. The context should reflect a market that has been running hard but has started to exhaust itself. When this pattern forms beneath a known resistance zone, or near a psychological round number that has acted as a cap in the past, the probability of reversal increases. 

Weakening volume, loss of follow-through, or other supporting evidence helps confirm that the market is stretched. Without this type of structure, the Concealing Baby Swallow loses its meaning and should be ignored.

  • Forms at the top of an extended rally with multiple green candles.
  • Gains strength when it appears beneath resistance or near a failed breakout.
  • Confirmation improves when it follows momentum divergence or a loss of follow-through with volume on buying pressure.

2. Wait for the Appearance of the Concealing Baby Swallow Candle

Next, you should not attempt to anticipate the pattern before all four candles have been completed because the message behind the sequence only becomes clear at the very end. The first two candles must show directional strength that matches the trend, and they should not have long shadows or signs of hesitation. 

Appearance of a Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick
Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick Appearance

The third candle must develop a wick against the trend and fail to extend the move any further, while still holding within the same direction. The fourth candle must fully engulf the third candle’s range, including both the wick and the body, and must close beyond the previous rejection point.

Any weakness in the final candle structure or a partial engulfment removes the strength of the Concealing Baby Swallow and makes the reversal less convincing. The main part of this pattern is not just the appearance of exhaustion, but the aggressive rejection that comes through the final candle.

That final engulfing move signals that the other side of the market has stepped in with enough pressure to stop the trend and potentially reverse it. Until that candle is complete, there is no trade, and acting early leads to inconsistent results.

3. Open Your Trade – Entry Point 

The entry comes just beyond the range of the engulfing fourth candle, once the price confirms the shift with movement through that level. For the bullish pattern, place the entry slightly above the fourth candle’s high after it has closed. For the bearish pattern, your entry should be placed just below the low of the engulfing candle. This ensures that your trade only activates once the market has proven that pressure has returned in the opposite direction.

Tradingsetup of a Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick with Entry and Stop Loss
Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick Tradingsetup

The stop-loss should be positioned on the other side of the fourth candle, using its high or low depending on the direction of the trade. This approach keeps your risk tightly controlled and clearly defined by the structure of the pattern itself. 

It also protects you from whipsaw movement or false signals that sometimes appear when markets are unstable. The goal is not to catch the exact top or bottom but to enter when pressure confirms the change and manage risk in a disciplined way.

4. Wait For A Confirmation Or Not

In clean, trending environments where the Concealing Baby Swallow forms at a logical turning point, confirmation is not always needed. The structure alone provides enough information, and the engulfing candle acts as a full reversal signal backed by price action and trend behavior.

However, in uncertain environments, confirmation becomes much more useful. A spike in volume following the engulfing candle, a crossover from a momentum indicator, or a secondary signal from a related candlestick pattern can all be extra proof that the market is ready to move.

Use confirmation when the market feels uncertain

Waiting for confirmation reduces the number of false entries but can also delay the trade. The decision depends on your confidence in the signal and how strong the surrounding structure is. Use confirmation when the market feels uncertain, but rely on structure when the pattern is clean and in the right location.

5. Choose Your Trading Take Profit 

Finally, your exit target should be based on the recent price structure, not on a fixed number of points. In bullish trades, look to the most recent lower high or the nearest resistance level that previously caused rejection. In bearish trades, use the last swing low or a zone that acted as support during the previous pullback. These areas offer natural places where the market might hesitate or reverse again, which makes them suitable for taking profit.

Target Price of a Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick
Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick Target Price

In more advanced setups, you can also use Fibonacci levels, measured moves, or ATR projections, but only if they align with what the price has already shown. The pattern does not include a built-in target, so you must anchor your take-profit based on what the chart is offering.

Which Strategies Can Be Used For The Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick Pattern?

The Concealing Baby Swallow pattern has a higher success rate when it’s part of a complete strategy rather than used on its own. The pattern structure shows a breakdown in trend momentum but it still requires confirmation, context, and logical entry placement. Here are a few quick professional-grade strategies that improve performance by combining the pattern with key tools, clean structure, and actionable rules.

  1. Volume Compression Followed by Breakout Confirmation
  2. MACD Weakness Combined With Pattern Breakdown
  3. RSI Divergence With Matching Pattern Context

1. Volume Compression Followed by Breakout Confirmation

Volume plays an important role in identifying if the Concealing Baby Swallow pattern reflects a real shift in market pressure. When the third and fourth candles show declining volume, it suggests that the prevailing trend is running out of energy. 

Volume Indicator with a Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick
Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick Volume

This compression stage shows hesitation and often precedes a meaningful move in the opposite direction. Once the engulfing fourth candle closes in this strategy, you should wait for the volume to expand again during the breakout beyond the fourth candle’s range. That shift confirms that new traders are stepping in and that the reversal has momentum behind it.

Monitor volume using a basic volume bar overlay or a volume profile tool if available. Place the entry above the fourth candle’s high in a bullish setup or below its low in a bearish setup. Avoid entering if volume remains flat, as that suggests a lack of conviction and increases the chances of a failed move. 

The stop-loss can be placed just beyond the fourth candle’s opposite end, and take-profit levels should be tied to the next major structure level or zone of interest that has acted as resistance or support in the past.

2. MACD Weakness Combined With Pattern Breakdown

The MACD is useful for gauging trend strength and can help identify when momentum begins to shift during the formation of the pattern. In a bullish setup, the MACD histogram should be shrinking during the third and fourth candles, showing that bearish pressure is fading. 

In a bearish version, the histogram should contract or cross below the signal line, indicating that bullish momentum is running out. These subtle shifts in the indicator align well with the psychology behind the engulfing move and help confirm that the reversal is not just visual but backed by internal market weakness.

Apply the MACD with standard settings (12, 26, 9) and monitor both the histogram and the signal line when utilizing this strategy. You should see momentum decreasing in the direction of the trend as the pattern builds. When the engulfing candle completes and MACD confirms the shift, the entry becomes more reliable. 

The entry should be placed just beyond the high of the engulfing candle in a bullish setup or just below the low in a bearish setup, which ensures that the trade only activates once the price confirms the shift in direction. The stop-loss should be placed just beyond the opposite end of the engulfing candle, allowing enough room for volatility.

3. RSI Divergence With Matching Pattern Context

Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a powerful momentum filter that helps confirm when the market is overstretched and ready to reverse. In a bullish Concealing Baby Swallow setup, the RSI should show higher lows while the price makes lower lows. This divergence indicates that momentum is weakening even though the price continues to push downward. 

RSI Indicator with a Divergence to a Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick
Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick RSI

In a bearish version, look for the price to make higher highs while the RSI makes lower highs. This gap between price action and momentum signals that the current trend is likely losing momentum and is vulnerable to a reversal.

To use this strategy, apply the RSI with standard settings (14-period close) and watch how it reacts during the third and fourth candles. The divergence should already be forming by the third candle, with confirmation coming as the engulfing candle completes. 

When the RSI remains below 60 in a bearish setup or above 40 in a bullish setup, it further supports the continuation of pressure in the new direction. Enter just above the high of the fourth candle in a bullish setup or just below the low in a bearish setup. Place the stop-loss on the opposite side of the fourth candle, below its low for bullish trades or above its high for bearish trades.

What Is The Success Rate Of The Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick Pattern?

Thomas Bulkowski lists the success rate of the Concealing Baby Swallow pattern at 75%, based on his analysis of historical chart data. This means the pattern leads to a meaningful reversal when the full structure forms under the right conditions. It ranks among the stronger multi-candle formations in his testing.

In our experience, the pattern delivers the best results when paired with other tools such as volume confirmation, nearby structure, or momentum shifts. On its own, it can still provide value but the trade becomes much more reliable when the setup aligns with other factors that show the market is ready to reverse. Structure, context, and follow-through matter just as much as the candles themselves.

Is the Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick Pattern Suitable For Beginners?

No, as the Concealing Baby Swallow pattern is based on price structure rather than the color of the candles. This means it requires more experience in reading price action without relying on visual contrast. Beginners who trade it without understanding the four-candle sequence or the meaning behind the pattern will struggle to use it effectively.

Use a demo account as a beginner

That said, the pattern becomes much more manageable when it’s studied alongside examples and paired with clear rules for entry and stop placement. Beginners using a demo account can focus on identifying clean trends and wait for proper engulfing confirmation to use this pattern and build long-term success while improving their pattern recognition. 

What Are the Pros and Cons of Trading the Concealing Baby Swallow Candle Pattern?

The Concealing Baby Swallow pattern works best when traders are looking for clean reversals after strong directional trends. Its structure is strict, and the four-candle sequence helps filter out weak attempts at reversal, ideally when paired with momentum indicators or support and resistance. It performs well when pressure shifts decisively and can help beginners through its defined entry and stop levels.

Nevertheless, the pattern is difficult to identify without experience, it shows up rarely in live markets, and it offers no built-in targets. Its strict requirements mean that even one candle out of place disqualifies the setup, which limits how often it can be traded. Here are the main pros and cons traders should understand before relying on it:

Pros

  • Works well identifying strong trend reversals
  • Offers a clear four-candle sequence with strict rules
  • Can be combined easily with momentum tools
  • Suitable for visual traders who rely on chart patterns
  • Filters out early reversal attempts that lack power

Cons

  • Hard to identify without chart experience
  • Rare and difficult to find in live markets
  • Depends entirely on a clean four-candle sequence
  • Offers no built-in profit target
  • Limited educational material compared to other patterns

What Are The Advantages Of The Concealing Baby Swallow Pattern?

The Concealing Baby Swallow stands out because it shows a decisive rejection in trend pressure using a unique four-candle structure. While it may be harder to spot visually than common patterns, its logic is clean and highly structured when used correctly. The setup gives traders a defined entry, a meaningful stop level, and an opportunity to join a reversal at a point of weakness in the trend. Here are some of its advantages:

  • Works well identifying strong trend reversals: The Concealing Baby Swallow is designed to catch exhaustion at the end of sharp trending moves, where momentum begins to collapse. It signals that the dominant side has lost control, and the engulfing structure confirms the shift. This helps position traders before the full reversal.
  • Offers a clear four-candle sequence with strict rules: Each candle in the Concealing Baby Swallow has a specific role, with little room for interpretation. When all four align correctly, the signal becomes objective rather than emotional. This gives traders a way to remove guesswork and stick to a consistent trading plan.
  • Can be combined easily with momentum tools: RSI, MACD, and volume indicators all enhance the strength of the pattern when used properly. They help confirm when momentum is fading and add context to the signal. This combination creates more complete trade setups that go beyond just candle shapes.
  • Suitable for visual traders who rely on chart patterns: Once the pattern is learned, it becomes easy to spot based on shape and sequence. This helps traders who are focused on chart structure rather than signal overlays. The pattern rewards attention to detail and clean setup selection.
  • Filters out early reversal attempts that lack power: Because the entry only occurs after the fourth candle completes, many weak signals are naturally filtered out. The engulfing move acts as a test that confirms if the reversal is strong enough to trade. 

What Are The Disadvantages Of The Concealing Baby Swallow Pattern?

The Concealing Baby Swallow has several challenges that limit how often it can be used in live trading. The strict candle sequence, lack of built-in targets, and the need for perfect context make it difficult to rely on consistently. These issues become more apparent when traders try to apply the pattern in real time without supporting tools or structure.

  • Hard to identify without chart experience: Since all candles in the pattern are the same color, the setup is easy to miss unless you are watching closely and know what to look for. Many traders overlook it because it lacks the usual visual contrast. This makes early identification harder for beginners.
  • Rare and difficult to find in live markets: The Concealing Baby Swallow pattern forms under strict conditions, which makes it hard to spot during normal trading. Valid setups are super rare and require clean structure, directional flow, and proper engulfing behavior, limiting how often they appear. This rarity makes the pattern difficult to include in a consistent strategy that depends on frequent opportunities.
  • Depends entirely on a clean four-candle sequence: If even one candle is out of place, the entire pattern loses its meaning. There is no flexibility in the structure, which reduces the number of valid patterns. This strict requirement lowers its frequency and limits when it can be used.
  • Offers no built-in profit target: The Concealing Baby Swallow gives no profit targets, so you must define your take-profit level based on technical analysis. This adds complexity and relies on the trader’s ability to read price zones accurately.
  • Limited educational material compared to other patterns: Since the pattern is less common and harder to visualize, fewer resources explain how to use it properly. This lack of guidance makes it harder for new traders to understand the full strategy. Without practice and deeper study, misuse is likely.

Can the Concealing Baby Swallow Pattern Have Failure Signals?

Yes, even when the pattern forms correctly, it can still fail if the structure appears in the wrong location, lacks momentum, or is triggered without supporting evidence. Traders who ignore confirmation tools or overlook the quality of the trend often end up acting on a Concealing Baby Swallow that looks correct but is missing key conditions. Check out these failure signals to avoid losing trades:

  • Pattern forms in the middle of a range: When the Concealing Baby Swallow appears inside a sideways or congested market, the signal loses meaning. The engulfing move may look valid, but without trend exhaustion or a strong directional lead-in, it reflects random movement rather than true rejection. Reversal trades from the center of a range tend to lack follow-through and often reverse quickly.
  • Weak or unconvincing engulfing candle: The fourth candle must completely engulf the third candle’s body and wick to confirm real pressure. If the engulfing candle is small, indecisive, or fails to close strongly past the prior range, the pattern becomes unreliable. A weak close shows that the market lacks conviction and the shift in pressure is not confirmed.
  • Pattern forms with rising volume in the wrong direction: If volume increases during the third candle instead of dropping off, it signals that the trend is not weakening. The engulfing candle becomes a temporary reaction instead of a real shift in pressure. This leads to false signals where the reversal fails and the trend resumes.
  • RSI remains overextended in the direction of the trend: When the RSI shows no divergence and remains stretched in the trend’s direction, the pattern has less weight. It suggests momentum is still with the dominant side, even though the candles show rejection. Without this signal fading, the reversal often stalls or fails entirely.
  • MACD histogram continues expanding during the fourth candle: If the MACD continues to grow during the fourth candle instead of showing weakness or contraction, the move is less likely to succeed. The expanding histogram signals that momentum has not slowed down and that the engulfing move may be premature. This creates a false impression of reversal when pressure is still active.
  • No clean trend before the pattern appears: The Concealing Baby Swallow depends on a clean directional trend before it forms. If the pattern appears after a choppy or overlapping move, the context is invalid. Without trend exhaustion, the signal loses reliability and often becomes a failed attempt to guess direction.

Which Indicators Can Be Combined With The Concealing Baby Swallow Pattern?

The Concealing Baby Swallow is best used with reliable confirmation tools to avoid false signals and enter only valid formations. These indicators help define momentum shifts, validate exhaustion, and provide structure to the entry. These are some indicators that work well with the pattern when applied correctly within the context of a clean trend and price behavior.

MACD Indicator with Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick
Bullish Concealing Baby Swallow Candlestick MACD
  • Relative Strength Index (RSI): The RSI works well with this pattern when set to a 14-period close. In a bullish setup, the price making new lows while RSI forms higher lows signals divergence and a possible reversal. In a bearish setup, RSI should fail to confirm new highs in price, showing that momentum is weakening. This helps confirm that the pattern is not forming in isolation and that the pressure shift has already begun.
  • MACD: Use the MACD with settings of 12, 26, and 9 to track the fading strength of the current trend. Watch for histogram contraction or a signal line flattening during the third and fourth candles. These signs indicate that the trend may be losing power, which supports the engulfing move of the fourth candle. A clear slowdown in momentum adds confidence to the trade and reduces false entries.
  • Volume Overlay or Volume Profile: Volume tools help confirm the legitimacy of the reversal attempt. The Concealing Baby Swallow becomes more meaningful when volume fades during the early candles and increases once the price begins breaking the range of the engulfing candle. A lack of volume follow-through often leads to failed setups. This makes volume one of the most important filters to include with the pattern.
  • Bollinger Bands: Apply Bollinger Bands using the standard 20-period setting with 2 standard deviations. When the price pierces the upper or lower band during the second or third candle and then closes back inside the bands with the engulfing move, it shows strong rejection. That kind of extreme price action followed by reversal fits the logic of this pattern well. It confirms that the market reached a limit and failed to maintain momentum.
  • Exponential Moving Averages (EMA): The 20 and 50 EMA can provide a directional bias. When the pattern appears just above the EMA 20 in a bullish market or below it in a bearish one, it suggests that the price is aligned with the trend. If the pattern also rejects the EMA 50, that adds further weight to the idea that a reversal is forming at a meaningful level. The moving averages help confirm that the setup isn’t forming in the middle of noise.

What Are Similar Patterns To The Concealing Baby Swallow Pattern?

Since you’re interested in the Concealing Baby Swallow, you might also want to explore other reversal patterns that follow a similar structure or reversal meaning. Some rely on multi-candle sequences, while others focus on sudden exhaustion or engulfing moves. Each of these can offer unique opportunities depending on the type of trend, market conditions, and how you trade. Our table lists similar patterns and what they are best suited for.

Pattern NameMain CharacteristicsBest Use Case
Three Line StrikeA four-candle pattern that starts with three strong candles in one direction and ends with a fourth candle that fully engulfs them.Good for spotting aggressive reversals when the prior trend becomes overextended.
Unique Three RiverConsists of three candles where the second candle shows indecision and the third attempts to reverse the trend.Useful for identifying possible turning points during oversold or overbought conditions.
Engulfing PatternA two-candle setup where the second candle completely covers the body of the first in the opposite direction.Works well to spot when momentum shifts suddenly after a clear trend push.
Three Outside Up/DownStarts with a reversal candle followed by a larger engulfing candle and then a third candle that confirms the move.Good for confirming the strength of a trend reversal after initial hesitation.
Breakaway PatternA five-candle sequence that starts with a strong trend and finishes with a decisive reversal candle.Ideal for recognizing larger momentum shifts when the trend becomes unsustainable.

Learn more Candlestick Patterns in our Free Candlestick Formation PDF.

What Is The Difference Between The Concealing Baby Swallow, the Unique Three River, and The Three Line Strike Pattern?

The Unique Three River looks similar to the Concealing Baby Swallow at first, but it lacks the full engulfing structure that defines the pattern. It uses smaller candles, relies on partial rejection, and signals a soft reversal near key levels. It does not require the final candle to cover the entire range of the one before it like the Concealing Baby Swallow.

The Three Line Strike is the opposite in behavior as it shows three strong candles in one direction followed by a large candle that erases the full move in a single push going in the opposite trend. This pattern focuses on momentum shock rather than pressure build-up like the Baby Swallow. Both alternatives are easier to spot but less strict in structure, while the Baby Swallow demands full rejection within a clean trend.

What Are The Limitations Of The Concealing Baby Swallow?

The Concealing Baby Swallow is a structured and precise pattern that comes with practical limitations, which can affect how often it can be used. These drawbacks should be considered before trading.

  • The pattern is rare and appears only in specific conditions.
  • All candles must be the same color, making it easy to overlook.
  • Requires perfect structure or the setup becomes invalid.
  • Offers no built-in price target for trade exits.
  • Needs confirmation tools to reduce false signals.
  • Performs poorly without a strong trend in place.

Learn Pattern Trading With the WR Trading Mentoring

Trading the Concealing Baby Swallow pattern profitably depends on a full plan, timing, and knowing how to manage every part of the trade. The WR Trading Mentoring program is designed to help traders apply patterns like this one within a complete system that focuses on long-term success. 

You start by learning how to analyze the price without taking trades, focusing on reading the market, identifying clean setups, and finding opportunities with strong reward potential. The process is guided step by step, so you build a foundation before moving into live trading.

Once you understand how to recognize real setups, the program shifts into strategy, timing, and active trade management. You work through a structured routine that includes transitioning from demo to live trading, tracking your results, and discussing trades with other members through live webinars. 

Our plan for you

The goal is to teach you how to follow a fixed plan, avoid poor market conditions, and trade only when the pattern is valid with confirmation. Instead of relying on overloaded tools or theoretical material, you learn to focus on one market, follow rules, and apply what works in real conditions.

Conclusion: The Concealing Baby Swallow Is a Reliable Rare Pattern With a High Success Rate

To summarize, we’ve broken down the Concealing Baby Swallow as a rare but reliable four-candle reversal formation that offers a structured way to catch turning points in a market that’s run out of momentum. The pattern works in bullish and bearish directions with a 75% success rate, relying on a specific engulfing sequence that reveals a shift in pressure without any visual change in candle color. 

In our testing, the pattern works best when it’s backed by a strong trend, clean structure, and tools like volume or momentum indicators that help confirm the shift. It’s a pattern that can be a great addition to your strategy when applied with technical analysis. We’ve used it in both trending and exhaustion phases with great success, and this guide should give you the confidence to do the same.

FAQs: Most Asked Questions on the Concealing Baby Swallow Pattern

Can the Concealing Baby Swallow Be Used on Lower Timeframes Like 5-Minute Charts?

Yes, but the Concealing Baby Swallow is much harder to find and less reliable on small timeframes due to noise and volatility. Most traders prefer using it on the 1-hour chart or higher where the structure holds better. Lower timeframes can distort the candles and reduce the accuracy of the setup.

Is It Necessary for All Four Candles in the Concealing Baby Swallow to Be the Same Color?

Yes, the pattern requires all candles to be either red or green, depending on the direction of the trend. This uniformity helps reveal consistent pressure leading into the engulfing move. If any candle breaks this color sequence, it no longer qualifies as a valid setup.

What Role Does the Third Candle Play in the Concealing Baby Swallow?

The third candle shows the first signs of hesitation with a long wick against the trend. This is where pressure begins to shift, even though the trend is still intact. If this candle is too weak or irregular, the signal loses strength.

Should the Concealing Baby Swallow Be Traded on Its Own or Only With Confirmation?

It should always be paired with technical analysis and confirmation tools. Relying on the Concealing Baby Swallow alone can lead to inconsistent results and failed entries. Confirmation helps separate strong setups from random formations that only look good.

Is the Concealing Baby Swallow More Effective in Forex, Crypto, or Stocks?

The Concealing Baby Swallow can appear in any market but is more reliable in forex and crypto where clean trend conditions are easier to find. Stocks often show gaps and irregular candles that distort the structure. Choose markets with stable volume and directional flow.

Dominikas Pupkevicius
Forex Trading Expert and Author
Dominikas Pupkevicius is an active trader and financial writer focused on forex, CFDs, and cryptocurrency. He started writing about trading over 8 years ago, driven by his own struggles to comprehend the markets when he first began. What started as research for personal improvement quickly turned into a career to make complex trading topics easier for others to understand. Through years of hands-on experience working with financial websites, Dominikas has developed an understanding of trading platforms, broker selection, and market strategy. His writing provides practical advice with clear explanations to help beginners avoid common mistakes while following the topic easily. He continues to trade independently and share what he learns through detailed guides, tutorials, and broker reviews.
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Dominikas Pupkevicius
Dominikas Pupkevicius Forex Trading Expert and Author
Dominikas Pupkevicius is an active trader and financial writer focused on forex, CFDs, and cryptocurrency. He started writing about trading over 8 years ago, driven by his own struggles to comprehend the markets when he first began. What started as research for personal improvement quickly turned into a career to make complex trading topics easier for others to understand. Through years of hands-on experience working with financial websites, Dominikas has developed an understanding of trading platforms, broker selection, and market strategy. His writing provides practical advice with clear explanations to help beginners avoid common mistakes while following the topic easily. He continues to trade independently and share what he learns through detailed guides, tutorials, and broker reviews.
Johannes Striegel
Johannes Gresham
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