Petrochelidon fulva
The Cave Swallow, Petrochelidon fulva, is a medium-sized passerine bird, a member of the swallow family Hirundinidae. Measuring approximately 12-14 cm (4.7-5.5 inches) in length with a wingspan of 25-30 cm (10-12 inches) and weighing 14-22 grams, this species is characterized by its glossy dark blue-black upperparts and mostly whitish to buffy underparts. Distinctive field marks include a pale rufous or cinnamon rump, a chestnut forehead patch often bordered by black, and a rufous throat and ...
Primarily found in open country adjacent to caves, sinkholes, cliffs, or human-made structures such as bridges, culverts, and buildings. It forages over grasslands, agricultural fields, and water bodies from sea level up to moderate elevations.
Strictly insectivorous, feeding primarily on flying insects such as flies, beetles, true bugs, moths, and winged ants. They forage by hawking insects directly from the air, often in large flocks over open areas or water.
Cave Swallows are highly social, forming large breeding colonies that can number in the thousands, and engaging in communal roosting outside the breeding season. They are aerial insectivores, employing a graceful, agile flight to hawk flying insects over open landscapes, often in groups. While co...
The Cave Swallow has a fragmented but extensive range, primarily across the Americas. Resident populations occur in the Caribbean (Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands), southern Mexico, and locally in coastal Peru. In the United States, there are both resident and migratory populations;...
Least Concern
- Unlike many swallows, the Cave Swallow has a distinctive pale rufous or cinnamon rump patch, which is a key identification feature. - Some subspecies of Cave Swallow build retort (gourd-shaped with a tunnel entrance) mud nests, while others build half-cup nests, often dictated by the specific n...