Cliff Swallow

(Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)

Conservation Status
Cliff Swallow Nests
  IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

     
  NatureServe

N5B - Secure Breeding

SNRB - Unranked Breeding

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
           
 
Description
 
 

 

 
     
 

Size

 
 

5 to 5½ in length

13½ wingspan

 
     
 

Voice

 
 

 
 

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Steep banks, cliffs, bridges, and buildings near waterways

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Migration

 
 

Mid-April to early October

 
     
 

Nesting

 
 

 

 
     
 

Food

 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common to abundant migrant and breeder

 
         
 

Maps

 
 

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Aves (birds)  
 

Order

Passeriformes (perching birds)  
 

Family

Hirundinidae (swallows and martins)  
 

Genus

Petrochelidon (cliff swallows and allies)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota ganieri)

Lesser Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota tachina)

Mexican Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota melanogaster)

Northern Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota pyrrhonota)

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Nests

 
    Cliff Swallow Nests      
           

 

Camera

 

     
 
Slideshows
 
Cliff Swallow
Allen Chartier
  Cliff Swallow  
Cliff Swallow
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren
  Cliff Swallow  
Cliff Swallow
JMC Nature Photos
  Cliff Swallow  
     

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
tomb0171
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Jul 16, 2010

Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)

* Family: Hirundinidae,
* Genus: Petrochelidon,
* Species: P. pyrrhonota,
* Phylum: Chordata,
* Class: Aves,
* Order: Passeriformes,
* Type: Bird,
* Diet: Omnivore,
* Average life span in the wild: no data,
* Size: 5.1 in (13 cm) or Wingspan 11--11.8 in(28--30 cm),
* Weight: 0.7--1.2 oz (19--34 g),

** Petrochelidon pyrrhonota is a member of the passerine bird family Hirundinidae — the swallows and martins.

More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_Swallow
or http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cliff_Swallow/lifehistory

   
  Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) - Nesting Under an Iowa Bridge
Kevin Cavallin
 
   
 
About

Kevin Cavallin

These guys have been nesting here for some time now. It was kind of interesting to watch them gather mud from up stream, and fly back to the bridge to build their nests. Some of them were even dipping the collected mud in the stream as they flew. Interesting little swallows.

   
  Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
wetvideocamera
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Feb 2, 2011

A Cliff Swallow that was seen in the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area near Creston, BC.

( Petrochelidon pyrrhonota ) May 2007

   
  Cliff Swallows Under Bridge
Larry Jordan
 
   
 
About

Published on Jun 19, 2012

Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) are feeding nestlings under a bridge in Northern California. Watch the bird in the top middle of the screen at the very end of the video as it gets pulled right out of its nest by another swallow!

   
  Cliff Swallows in Maine
WIld Bird Video Productions
 
   
 
About

Published on Jun 8, 2013

A good friend of mine has a large colony of cliff swallows nesting at his farm. Most of the nests are inside the dark barns, but I found one outside in the light. © 2013 Garth McElroy. www.featheredfotos.com

License at http://www.paya.com/videos/1140024

   
       

 

Camcorder

 
 
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