The Cliff Swallows 
No. 103 
Cliff Swallow 
A. O. U. No. 612. Petrochelidon albifrons albifrons (Rafinesque). 
Synonyms.— Eave Swallow. Republican Swallow. 
Description.— Adult: A prominent whitish crescent on forehead; crown, back, 
and an obscure patch on chest steel-blue; throat and sides of head deep chestnut, the 
color sometimes meeting fellow across nape; breast, sides, and a cervical collar brown- 
gray; belly white or whitish; wings and tail blackish; rump pale tawny, or pinkish 
cinnamon,—the color reaching around on flanks; under tail-coverts dusky, edged with 
whitish. In young birds the frontlet is obscure or wanting; the plumage dull brown 
above; and the throat blackish with white specks. Bill and feet weak, the former 
suddenly compressed near tip. Length 127-152.4 (5.00-6.00); wing 110.5 (4.35); 
tail 50.8 (2.00); bill from nostril 5.6 (.22). 
Recognition Marks. —“Warbler size,” but comparison inappropriate—better 
say “Swallow size”; white forehead and rufous rump. Found in colonies. 
Nesting. —In colonies with nests often in contact. Nest: An inverted stack¬ 
shaped, or declined retort-shaped structure of mud; lined scantily, or well, with grass, 
and depending from the walls of cliffs, sides of barns under the eaves, concrete bridges, 
and the like. Eggs: 4 or 5; white, or, rarely,, suffused with pale buffy (cartridge 
buff to pale pinkish cinnamon), spotted sharply and sparingly, or occasionally broadly, 
with tendency to confluence, with reddish brown (chocolate to warm sepia and verona 
brown) and deep vinaceous gray. Av. size 20.8 x 14 (.82 x .55). Season: April 
—July; two broods. 
Range of Petrochelidon albifrons. —North and Middle America, migrating to 
South America in winter. 
Range of P. a. albifrons. —North America. Breeds in the United States, 
except Florida and the Rio Grande Valley, and from the western portion of Mexico 
north to the Arctic Circle (or less easterly). Winter home undescribed , but undoubt¬ 
edly in South America. 
Distribution in California. —Abundant migrant throughout the State; also 
a common breeder in favorable sections anywhere below the Boreal zone, but some¬ 
what localized—a general preference for open country instead of timber. Nests on 
the protected seacoasts, but is curiously absent from the islands. Occurs sparingly 
in winter in the Imperial Valley (van Rossem). 
Authorities. — Gambel (Hirundo fulva), Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., vol. ii., 
1847, p. 31 (Calif.); Cones, Birds Col. Val., 1878, p. 426 (syn., desc., hist, of discovery, 
habits, etc.; see also p. 364); Beal, U. S. Dept. Agric., Biol. Surv. Bull., no. 30, 1907, 
p. 28 (food); Grinnell, Univ. Calif. Pub. Zook, vol. v., 1908, p. 106, pis. 18, 19 (San 
Bernardino Mts.; nests built upon a pine tree); Cooke, U. S. Dept. Agric., Bull. no. 185, 
1915, pp. 19, 26, fig. 6, map (migr. route). 
No. 103a Northern Cliff Swallow 
A. O. U. No. 612 , part. Petrochelidon albifrons hypopolia Oberholser. 
Description. —Similar to Petrochelidon albifrons albifrons from eastern United 
States (and California), but larger; frontal band paler, more whitish; breast more grayish 
(less ochraceous). Length of male: wing 112.1 (4.41); tail 50.7 (2.00); bill 7.2 (.284); 
tarsus 12.3 (.49). Female: 110.2 (4.34); tail 50.7 (2.00); bill 7 (.27); tarsus 13 (.51). 
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