Bird Board
ID help - Cliff or Cave Swallows?
Posted by Justin Miller
over 8 years ago
5 Comments
Had many many swallows swarming around Peaceful Waters this past weekend - mostly tree swallows and some northern rough-winged swallows mixed in. Among them were these much more colorful, patterned looking swallows that I wasn't familiar with. I ruled out barn swallows which is the only other one I'm familiar with and have photographed - so the only thoughts on these were cliff or cave swallows. I haven't ever seen either one, so they'd both be new for me.
Comments
Hey Justin,
Nice shots. Swallows are alway difficult to photograph. This appear to be Cave Swallows of the Mexican race. The pale orange on the rump and forehad distinguish it from the West Indian race of Cave Swallow, which breed in South Florida in summer and have much brighter orange. Cliff Swallows would have a veyr pale peach rump and a darker head and throat, with white instead of orange or peach on the forehead, although this field mark is tricky since it's no always noticeable on juveniles and is also present on other swallows such as Barn.
Thanks Toe. Indeed they are quite the challenge to photograph in flight, but I do enjoy the challenge! I was shooting many of the tree swallows, noticed some rough-wingeds mixed in, and then every once in a while these other ones would buzz past. I'd never seen or shot them before.
Cave swallow is a new one for me (cliff would be too)...so glad to know what they are! Are the Mexican race just migrating through, and don't breed here like the West Indians?
Toe - what do you think on this one - is this a bank swallow, or a juvie tree swallow?:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/162434291/original.jpg
Not sure about that one. I do know the West Indian race nest here. There are continuing nest sites underneath some bridges, with the one at the Turnpike and SW 216th St being well known. As to the Mexican race nesting here, I'll have to ask around.
The bird in that photo is a Tree Swallow.
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