Cave Swallow
A species of Cliff Swallows and Allies Scientific name : Petrochelidon fulva Genus : Cliff Swallows and Allies
Cave Swallow, A species of Cliff Swallows and Allies
Botanical name: Petrochelidon fulva
Genus: Cliff Swallows and Allies
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Description People often ask General Info
Photo By silversea_starsong , used under CC-BY-NC-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The cave swallow measures 12 to 14 cm in length and weighs 19 g on average. The largest of the five subspecies, P. f. pallida, has an average wing length between 107.0 and 112.3 mm; the smallest subspecies, P. f. aequatorialis, has an average wing length between 93.0 and 93.5 mm. Differences between the sexes are minimal, both are similar in size and weight and are difficult to distinguish from their plumage. It has grey-blue upperparts and brown-tangerine forefront and throat. 
Size
13-15 cm (5-6 in)
Colors
Brown
Black
Gray
White
Blue
Orange
Life Expectancy
9 years
Nest Placement
Building
Clutch Size
1 - 5 eggs
Incubation Period
1 - 2 broods
Number of Broods
15 - 18 days
Nestling Period
20 - 22 days
Feeding Habits
Cave Swallow's diet primarily consists of a wide variety of flying insects, including seed bugs, grasshoppers, lacewings, beetles, aphids, moths, wasps, bees, and flies. Cave Swallow forages in flocks at heights up to 350 feet, particularly during morning and late afternoon in nesting season. They consume water mid-flight from water bodies. Information sharing in colonies may enhance foraging efficiency.
Habitat
Cave Swallow predominantly inhabit regions where caves, sinkholes, cliffs, and occasionally man-made structures such as highway culverts and underpasses provide suitable nesting sites. They show a preference for environments close to open areas for foraging, often near bodies of water. While North American subspecies of cave Swallow tend to occupy caves and similar habitats, South American subspecies are inclined to nest on cliff faces and building sides. Some subspecies remain resident year-round in their breeding range, indicating limited migration behaviors.
Nest Behavior
Cave Swallow engages in colonial nesting, commonly refurbishing old nests, which can lead to structural failure from repeated use. Egg-laying and nest-building activities follow a species-specific seasonal pattern, and both parents participate in the care of the eggs and young.
Nest Characteristics
Cave Swallow nests are typically found on vertical walls or horizontal ledges in colonies. Made of mud pellets and bat guano, these nests have a flattened cup shape, sometimes with upward-extending sides and a small entrance tunnel. They are lined with grass and plant fibers and are often reused and refurbished.
Dite type
Insectivorous
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General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Bird Feeder Type
Platform
Behavior
Cave Swallow exemplify strong aerial agility, often navigating the skies with powerful wing strokes and regular gliding. Their approach to cave habitats is notably graceful; they descend into caves in a floating manner, spiraling back up when exiting. Devoted to an aerial lifestyle, cave Swallow descend only to gather construction materials for their nests. Post-rainfall or along riverbanks, they skillfully collect moist mud or bat guano, key components for their nests. Intriguingly, cave Swallow's wing fluttering while on land may serve multiple purposes: deterring predators, maintaining cleanliness, or managing mating encounters. They exhibit social tendencies, building nests collaboratively in colonies and often foraging in homogeneous flocks or mixed-company of swallows.
Distribution Area
P. f. pallida is found farther west in the south-western United States and into north-eastern Mexico. P. f. citata has the southernmost range of the North American subspecies and is found on the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. P. f. aequatorialis is found in Ecuador, and it is speculated that it may extend its range into Peru. P. f. rufocollaris occurs in north-western Peru. Breeding is known to occur in Mexico, south-eastern New Mexico, southern Florida, Greater Antilles and in areas of Texas. The South American populations, as well as most Mexican and Caribbean populations, are considered resident populations which breed and overwinter in the same geographic range. The New Mexico and other northern populations migrate south; however, it is not known where they migrate to or which migration routes they take. Cave swallows have been observed to overwinter in southern Texas since at least the 1980s.
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Scientific Classification
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