Cave Swallow

Petrochelidon fulva

Order PASSERIFORMES - Family HIRUNDINIDAE - Subfamily Hirundininae

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1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Habitat
7. Food
8. Behavior
9. Reproduction
10. Conservation Status
11. Other Names

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.

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.

Description

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

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

• Rump orange.
• Throat and face buffy.
• Dark blue-black on crown and back.
• Underparts dull white, sides washed with buff.
• Forehead deep cinnamon.
• A few narrow white streaks on back.
• Light brown collar around neck.
• Wings and tail drab dark brown.
• Bill black.
• Eyes black.

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike.

Immature

Juvenile similar to adult, but with less distinct head pattern.

Similar Species

Distinguished from all other swallow species, except Cliff Swallow, by its pale orange rump and square tail.

• Cliff Swallow is similar, but usually has cream-colored forehead and dark throat.

Sound

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

»listen to songs of this species

Range

Summer Range

Breeds in Texas and southern New Mexico into central Mexico, and in southern Florida and northern Caribbean. Also resident in northern South America.

Winter Range

Winters in Mexico and Caribbean.

Habitat

Nests in some natural or human-made structure (cave, sinkhole, building, silo, bridge, culvert). During the day forages over nearby open areas, often near water.

Food

Flying insects.

Behavior

Foraging

Catches insects in flight.

Reproduction

Nest Type

Flattened cup made of mud pellets, sometimes with sides extending up and enclosing the bowl. May be covered, with a small entrance tunnel on one side. Lined with grass and plant fibers. Nest placed on a vertical wall, usually in twilight zone of cave or sinkhole. Colonial.

Egg Description

White, with fine dark spots.

Clutch Size

Usually 3-5 eggs. Range: 1-5.

Condition at Hatching

Naked and helpless.

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)

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.