- Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Identification
5-6" (13-15 cm). Sparrow-sized. A stocky, square-tailed swallow with pale buff rump. Upperparts dull steel-blue; underparts buff-white; throat dark chestnut; forehead white. Cave Swallow of Texas and Southwest is similar but smaller, with darker rump and pale buff throat. Mexican birds have chestnut foreheads.
Distribution
Breeds from Alaska, Ontario, and Nova Scotia southward through most of United States (except Southeast) and in northern half of Mexico. Winters in South America.
Taxonomy
Four different subspecies are recognized, pyrrhonota, tachina, and ganieari; melanogaster is sometimes included in pyrrhonota but those sources then recognize a form minima. Cliff Swallow has in the past been placed in genus Hirundo.
Habitat
Open country near buildings or cliffs; lakeshores and marshes on migration.
Behaviour
Nesting 4-6 white eggs in a gourd-shaped structure of mud lined with feathers and placed on a sheltered cliff face or under eaves. Nests in colonies.
Vocalisation
Constant squeaky chattering and twittering.
