Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
A single cliff swallow colony can contain up to several thousand gourd-shaped mud nests, each meticulously constructed from over 1,000 individual mud pellets.
- Scientific name
- Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Hirundinidae › Petrochelidon
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- increasing
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Open country, canyons, river valleys, and urban areas near bridges, overpasses, and buildings.
- Diet
- Aerial insects including flies, beetles, wasps, winged ants, and true bugs.
- Range
- North America, Central America, South America
- Size
- Length: 13-15 cm, Wingspan: 28-33 cm, Weight: 19-25 g
- Lifespan
- 4 to 6 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Widespread pesticide use reducing flying insect populations, climate change causing unseasonal cold snaps that freeze food sources, and nest destruction by property owners.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. Observe these agile flyers from a respectful distance, especially around their nesting colonies on cliffs or bridges. Do not disturb or remove their mud nests, as they are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. If you find a fallen chick, contact a local licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
The American cliff swallow ( Petrochelidon pyrrhonota ) is a member of the passerine bird family Hirundinidae consisting of both swallow and martin species. The scientific name is derived from Ancient Greek; Petrochelidon originates from the petros meaning "rock" and khelidon "swallow", pyrrhonota comes from purrhos meaning "flame-coloured" and -notos "-backed".
Photo: Xochitl Zambrano, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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