CLIFF SWALLOW. 



612. Petrochelidon lunifrons. 5% inches. 



Adults similar in plumage but the female slightly 

 paler. Easily distinguished from the Barn Swallow by 

 the square tail and light buffy forehead and rump. 



This is what is commonly called the Eave Swallow 

 in the East, because of its habit of plastering its nests 

 on the outside of barns or other buildings, up under 

 the eaves. In the West they usually resort to cliffs 

 where, sometimes, large sections of the face will be 

 completelj- covered with the little mud flasks; often 

 colonies of several thousand will build their nests to- 

 gether. 



Song". — A continuous twitter, uttered while on the 

 wing or at rest. 



Nest. — A flask or gourd-shaped structure of mud, 

 lined with straw and feathers, attached under the 

 eaves to the outside of buildings or on the faces of 

 cliffs; five to seven eggs are laid; white dotted and 

 spotted with reddish brown ( .80 x .55 ) . 



Range. — N. A., breeding from the Gulf to Greenland 

 and Alaska; winters in the TropicSo 



127 



