swallow ID in Palo Alto, CA? (1 Viewer)

[sandrinhalee]

Pls help with IDing this swallow. And does he have something in his mouth? I can't tell what's going on with the whitish thing around his bill. Surely that's not his beak?

 

[Jim M.]

Pls help with IDing this swallow. And does he have something in his mouth? I can't tell what's going on with the whitish thing around his bill. Surely that's not his beak?

Looks to be a Cliff swallow. I think the whitish thing you are referring to is the bird's forehead. The white forehead is a field mark for the Cliff swallow. Hard to tell whether it has something in its mouth, but I do not see anything obvious.

Best,
Jim

 

[sandrinhalee]

Oh! now I see it! Thanks!!

 

[Gentoo]

I agree with Cliff Swallow, the whitish forehead and pale belly with the dark V on the upper breast is a good mark on flying birds.