Cliff Swallow

A common swallow during spring migration and the summer months. Breeds widely in Sonoma County. Look for nesting colonies in the spring under bridges or other suitable cliff-like locations, including building eaves, bridges, dams, culverts, piers, and large rocks--anywhere there is a vertical face protected by an overhang of some kind (it now appears to be fairly uncommon for these swallows to use actual cliffs because suitable man-made surfaces abound). Cliff Swallows make pot- or gourd-shaped nests from mud they collect from pond or stream banks, flooded fields, or puddles. Cliff Swallows begin to show up in Sonoma County in mid- to late March. The bulk of the breeding population is present by mid-April. By the end of September, the birds are virtually gone, having headed south to winter in South America.

Fairly easy to identify when seen sitting on or in a nest, which allows a good view of the distinctively patterned face. Look for the dark blue-black cap, the deep rufous cheek and throat, and the white to buff brow (sometimes referred to as a “headlight”). The upper breast is buff, the belly and flanks white. There is usually some black at the lower edge of the throat. The buff at the upper breast extends up and over the back of the neck to create a buff band separating the rufous nape and dark crown from the dark back and wings. Whitish stippling on the back is difficult to see in the field. Buff also at the rump. The color of the pale brow shows considerable geographic variability. The birds we commonly see have a very pale buff to white brow, as in the bird pictured above (the bird in flight below, photographed in Texas, has a cinnamon brow). Juveniles lack the pale brow, having a uniformly dark head and throat. Underwing in flight is plainest of the swallows we see locally.

Identifying a Cliff Swallow (or any swallow) in flight is more challenging. The birds fly quickly and erratically, making it hard to see details of plumage. Having said that, Cliff Swallows often can be picked out easily from among other swallows by their conspicuously buff-colored rumps. The “headlight” may also be apparent at close quarters. The buff rump, pale brow, rufous cheek and throat, and a squarish tail (when closed) together indicate Cliff Swallow. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) is similarly colored, but it has the classic, split swallowtail (compare flight silhouettes at the bottom of this page) and lacks the buff rump and pale brow. Cave Swallow (Pterochelidon fulva) is quite similar in appearance to CLiff Swallow but does not occur in Sonoma County (normally confined to south-central Texas).

English synonyms: American Cliff Swallow, American Cliff-swallow, Crescent Swallow, Eave Swallow, North American Cliff-Swallow, Republican Swallow, Rocky Mountain Swallow

Cliff Swallow in other languages--German: Fahlstirnschwalbe; Spanish: Golondrina Alfarera, Golondrina de alcantarilla, Golondrina de Farallón, Golondrina de las Rocas, Golondrina de Peñasco, Golondrina Gorginegra, Golondrina grande, Golondrina rabadilla canel, Golondrina rabadilla canela, Golondrina Rabadilla Parda, Golondrina Risquera; French: Hirondelle à front blanc; Russian: американская горная ласточка, Белолобая горная ласточка, Белолобая ласточка, Ласточка белолобая; Japanese: サンショクツバメ(Sanshokutsubame); Chinese: 美洲燕

(Language information from Avibase, Birds of Europe (Mullarney et al, Princeton Field Guide Series), and Birds of Asia (Mark Brazil, Princeton Field Guide Series).