Cave Swallow
ExploreBirds
Cave Swallow
Petrochelidon fulva
The Cave Swallow is a small bird with a shiny blue back and a buffy chest. It builds its nest in caves and cliffs, using mud to create cozy homes for its family.
Habitat: Caves, Cliffs
Appearance
The Cave Swallow has a glossy blue-black back with chestnut-colored cheeks and forehead, contrasting with a creamy white belly. Its distinctive square tail helps differentiate it from swallows with deeply forked tails.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilyHirundinidaeGenusPetrochelidon
Category
BirdsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Cave Swallows can fly for hours without landing, catching all their meals while on the wing!
Sometimes, thousands of Cave Swallows nest together, making a giant chattering bird city!
Their sticky saliva acts like super-glue to hold mud nests securely onto cave walls or bridges!
They drink water in flight, scooping sips by skimming pond surfaces like tiny jet skis!
Special abilities
Ability
Mud Master Architect
Cave Swallows can build intricate, gourd-shaped mud nests, glued together with saliva, that help protect their young.
Ability
Aerial Acrobat Hunter
Cave Swallows have incredible agility in flight that helps them catch fast-moving insects mid-air for food.
Ability
Communal Cave Dweller
Cave Swallows have adapted to nest in large colonies within dark caves, providing safety in numbers.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 12-15 cm
- Wingspan
- 28-30 cm
- Weight
- 0.016-0.024 kg
- Lifespan
- 4-8 years
- Top Speed
- 60 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 3-5
- Incubation
- 14-16 days
- Migration Distance
- 3500 km
Diet & Feeding
These speedy birds are expert insect hunters, gobbling up flies, mosquitoes, and beetles mid-air!
Primary Foods
- flies
- mosquitoes
- beetles
- dragonflies
- ants
- wasps
Foraging Method
- Pursuit
Ecological connections
eats
Common Green Darner
Anax junius
Main food source
eats
House Fly
Musca domestica
Common insect prey
eaten by
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
Predator of adults
eaten by
Texas Rat Snake
Pantherophis obsoletus
Raids nests for eggs/chicks
shelters
Brazilian Free-tailed Bat
Tadarida brasiliensis
Often shares cave habitats
Traits
Wildlife
Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
Feathered
Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Aerial
Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting.
Cave Dwelling
Cave dwelling describes organisms specifically adapted to live in underground cave systems, often exhibiting specialized traits due to lack of light.
Insectivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Enjoy watching these birds from a safe distance to avoid disturbing their nests.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Cave Swallow?
12-15 cm
What is Cave Swallow's wingspan?
28-30 cm
How much does Cave Swallow weigh?
0.016-0.024 kg
How long does Cave Swallow live?
4-8 years
How fast can Cave Swallow move?
60 km/h
What does Cave Swallow eat?
These speedy birds are expert insect hunters, gobbling up flies, mosquitoes, and beetles mid-air!
Where is Cave Swallow usually found?
Caves, Cliffs
How does Cave Swallow hunt?
Pursuit
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Loading map…
Recent Snaps
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.
