Overview
Cliff Swallow: Small, stocky swallow, dark blue-gray upperparts, pale orange-brown rump, buff underparts. Forehead is white or buff while throat, sides of face are orange-brown. Crown is blue-black, bill is short and black. Tail is dark and squared. Legs and feet are gray. Catches insects in flight.
Range and Habitat
Cliff Swallow: Breeds from Alaska, Ontario, and Nova Scotia southward throughout most of U.S. except the southeast; spends winters in the tropics. Preferred habitats include open country near buildings or cliffs, lakeshores, and marshes.
Topo Map:
Swallow-like Body
Listen to Call
Voice Text
"churr", "zarp"
Interesting Facts
The Cliff Swallow was first described in 1817 by Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot, a French ornithologist.
Females are known to lay eggs in its own nest and then carry one of the eggs in its bill and put it in another female's nest.
When young leave their nests they congregate in large groups called creches. A pair of swallows can find its own young in the creche primarily by voice.
A group of swallows has many collective nouns, including a "gulp", "herd", "kettle", "richness", and "sord" of swallows.
Bird Term Glossary
Author
Gary Owen Dick
Artist
Yury Lisyak
.