Cave Swallow

Cave Swallow adult, in flight; Bentsen State Park, TX; Jun.

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

The Cave Swallow is a locally common swallow of Texas, Mexico, and the Caribbean. True to its name, it often roosts and nests inside the entrances to caves, sharing the space with bats.

Description

• Small, long-winged stocky songbird.
• Small bill.
• Wings long and pointed.
• Throat pale.
• Tail square.
• Rump pale.

• Size: 14 cm (6 in)
• Weight: 17-25 g (0.6-0.88 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike.

Sound

Song a thin squeaking twitter. Call a soft "chur."

Conservation Status

Populations increasing and range expanding. Using non-cave breeding sites, especially bridges and culverts under roads.

Other Names

Hirondella fauve, Hirondelle (French)
Golondrina de cuevas, Golondrina fulva (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• Two different subspecies of Cave Swallow are found in the United States. The southwestern form is the largest, has grayish sides, and a very pale throat. The Caribbean form that reaches Florida has more tawny sides, a more reddish face, and a darker rump. Another subspecies is found in the Yucatan, and two others occur in South America.
• Cave Swallows that nest in the twilight zone of caves often have their nests in places with minimal light. Individual birds appear to be able to locate these nests by flying past the nest site and then turning toward the nest, which is in better light than the bird?s darker vantage point.

Sources used to construct this page:

West, S. 1995. Cave Swallow (Hirundo fulva). In The Birds of North America, No. 141 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologists? Union, Washington, D.C.