The Migration of North American Birds 



SECOND SERIES* 



1. FIVE SWALLOWS 



Compiled by Harry C. Oberholser, Chiefly from Data in the Biological Survey 



(See frontispiece) 



CLIFF SWALLOW 



There are three subspecies of the CHff Swallow {Petrochelidon lunijrons) in 

 North America, all of which winter, probably, in South America. In migra- 

 tion, all Cliff Swallows of the United States and Canada, even those that breed 

 in the eastern United States, journey both northward and southward apparently 

 through Mexico and Central America, instead of crossing the Gulf of Mexico 

 or passing through the West Indies. 



The Eastern Cliff Swallow {Petrochelidon lunifrons lunifrons) breeds in North 

 America, north to central Quebec, northern Ontario, Mackenzie, and central 

 Alaska ; and south to Lower California, Colorado, northern Texas, and Virginia. 



The Lesser Cliff Swallow {Petrochelidon lunifrons tachina) breeds from 

 Arizona (excepting the southern border), New Mexico, and south central 

 Texas, south through eastern Mexico to Vera Cruz. 



The Mexican Cliff Swallow {Petrochelidon lunifrons melanogastris) breeds 

 from extreme southern Arizona south over the Mexican tableland to Guatemala. 



The records marked with an asterisk in the following table of migration 

 dates may refer to either the eastern Cliff Swallow or the Lesser Cliff Swallow. 

 All the rest pertain exclusively to the eastern bird. 



SPRING MIGRATION 



LOCALITY 



Orlando, Fla 



Charleston, S. C 



San Antonio, Tex.*. 



Austin, Tex.* 



Kerrville, Tex.* 



Chloride, N. M.*. . . 

 Los Angeles, Calif.. . 

 Santa Barbara, Calif 



Fresno, Calif 



Berkeley, Calif 



Raleigh, N. C 



Variety Mills, Va 



Washington, D. C... 



Athens, Tenn 



Versailles, Ky 



Onaga, Kans 



Boulder, Colo 



Morristown, N. J.. . . 

 Beaver, Pa 



Number 



of years' 



record 



4 

 9 



5 

 4 

 5 



5 



2 



13 



Average date of 

 spring arrival 



March 27 

 April 20 



March 18 

 March 28 

 March 20 



April 25 

 April 24 

 April 27 

 April 20 

 April 26 

 May 6 

 May IS 



April 20 



Earliest date of 

 spring arrival 



February 2, 1910 

 April 28, 1898 

 February 24, 190: 

 March 18, 1893 

 April 4, 1914 

 April 3, 1914 

 March 8, 1896 

 March 10, 19 11 

 March 13, 1913 

 March 5, 1913 

 April 20, 191 1 

 April II, 1887 

 April 10, 1908 

 April 16, 1908 

 April 23, 1909 

 April 26, 1913 

 May 5, 1912 

 May II, 191 3 

 April II, 1 89 1 



♦Continuing the Series begun by Wells W. Cooke. 

 (320) 



