Cliff Swallow

Cliff swallows are native to most of North America, although they are more common in the western part of the continent. During the winter they migrate to South America. As their name would suggest they are often found nesting on cliffs. In the past this limited their range. However cliff swallows have adapted to human civilization and now nest on many man made structure, such as bridges and building overhangs. This has helped them to expand their range and they can now be found in a variety of habitats.

 Cliff swallows eat primarily flying insects which they catch in flight. They usually feed in groups. These groups can consist of a couple of birds or a flock of 100's of birds. Often swallows will follow another bird who has found a good area to hunt.

Cliff swallows usually nest in colonies. Colonies in western North America tend to be larger than their counterparts in eastern North America. Both male and female build the nest which is made from mud. They will typically have 1 to 2 broods of chicks per year depending on where in the range their nest is located. Some swallows will lay eggs in other nests in the colony.