"Cliff swallow nests are gourd-shaped,
enclosed structures with an entrance
tunnel that opens downward. The tunnel may be absent from some nests. The mud pellets used to
build the nest consist of sand and smaller
amounts of silt and clay. The nest
chamber is lined sparingly with
grasses, hair, and feathers. The nest is
cemented with mud under the eave or
overhang of a building, bridge, or
other vertical surface.
Barn swallow nests are cup-shaped
rather than gourd-shaped, and the
mud pellets contain coarse organic
matter such as grass stems, horse
hairs, and feathers. The nest
cup is profusely lined with grasses and
feathers, especially white feathers.
Barn swallow nests are also typically
built under eaves or similarly protected
sites but not necessarily at the
highest point possible. Barn swallows
often use a beam or the protruding
edge of a door or window jamb as the
base for the nest, or attach the nest at
the juncture of the two walls of an
interior corner."
Emlen, J. T., Jr. 1954. Territory, nest building,
and pair formation in the cliff swallow. Auk
71:16-35.
What are Swallows?
Cliff swallows and barn swallows are slender, sleek birds that spend their spring and summers in North America. Swallows are very territorial and will return to the same nesting site over and over. Buildings, eaves and other structures often replace cliffs these days to build their distinctive mud pellet nests (see photo at right). Swallows have brownish red faces and light colored bellies. Cliff swallows have squared off tails, but barn swallows have long forked tails (see top photo). Young swallows have similar coloring, but lighter.
Swallows are small birds with dark glossy backs, red throats, pale under parts and long distinctive tail streamers. They are extremely agile in flight and spend most of their time on the wing. They are widespread breeding birds in the Northern Hemisphere, migrating south in winter. Recent declines due to loss of habitat quality in both their breeding and wintering grounds mean they are an Amber List species.
Amber-list species are those with an unfavorable conservation status in Europe; those whose population or range has declined moderately in recent years; those whose population has declined historically but made a substantial recent recovery; rare breeders; and those with internationally important or localized populations.
Cliff swallows and barn swallows are slender, sleek birds that spend their spring and summers in North America. Swallows are very territorial and will return to the same nesting site over and over. Buildings, eaves and other structures often replace cliffs these days to build their distinctive mud pellet nests (see photo at right). Swallows have brownish red faces and light colored bellies. Cliff swallows have squared off tails, but barn swallows have long forked tails (see top photo). Young swallows have similar coloring, but lighter.