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Wildlife
- Birds - |
Cliff Swallow
(Hirundo pyrrhonota) B/M |
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RANGE: Breeds from western and central Alaska and
central Yukon to northern Ontario, southern Quebec and New
Brunswick south to Mexico, southwestern Louisiana, northern
portion of the Gulf States and southern North Carolina; also in
the Lake Okeechobee region of southern Florida. Winters in South
America.
STATUS: Common in the West, locally fairly common in the East;
overall populations are stable or increasing, except in some
northeastern States where it is of special concern on the blue
list for declining species.
HABITAT: Originally restricted to the vicinity of cliffs and
banks; now occurs over open country around farmlands, towns,
bridges, dams, freeway overpasses, and other areas near mud
supplies and potential nest sites.
SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: A vertical substrate with an
overhang for nest attachment, a supply of mud suitable for nest
construction, fresh water with a smooth surface for drinking,
and an open foraging area near the nest site. Strongest
nesting habitat association on cliffs, bridges and buildings in
urban and rural residential areas, and edges of cropland,
pasture, and orchard.
NEST: Originally nested on bluffs, cliffs, deep gorges in
mountains, and sometimes on the side of large pine trees and in
caves; has adapted to building its gourd like mud nests under the
eaves of, or in, buildings, under bridges, in culverts, on the
face of dams, and under freeway overpasses. Forms colonies of up
to several hundred nests in favorable locations.
FOOD: Consumes insects caught while flying high, often above 100
feet, as nearly 100 percent of the diet.
REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Beal 1918, Bent 1942, DeGraff et
al. 1980, Emlen 1954, Forbush and May 1955, Johnsgard 1979,
Mayhew 1958, Miller 1999, Samuel 1971, Shunk 2004,Tate and Tate
1982. |
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