Cliff Swallow Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesCliff Swallow
Adult
Compact swallow with pointed, broad pointed wings, a small head, and a squared tail. In good light, adults have metallic, dark-blue backs and pale, cinnamon rumps. Their face is rusty with a white forehead.
© Caleb Putnam / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, April 30, 2020Adult
Builds nests made of mud, which they cement to the walls of cliff ledges, under bridges, eaves, and culverts.
© Eric Liner / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 24, 2007Not all videos have sound
Adult
Compact swallow with a small head and squared tail. In flight note, pale rump patch and collar.
© Bryan Calk / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 25, 2019Juvenile
Juveniles look like messy adults with rusty or brown faces and a dingy breast.
© Mary Rumple / Macaulay LibraryIdaho, July 28, 2017Adult
Adults are dark blue above, but appear black in poor light. Key identification features include the pale rump and forehead and rusty cheeks.
© David Carr / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, May 06, 2017Flock
Groups gather mud in their bills along streambanks, lakesides, or puddles to build their nests.
© Matthew Pendleton / Macaulay LibraryUtah, May 10, 2016Habitat
Builds mud nests in colonies on cliff ledges or under bridges, eaves, and culverts.
© Mitch Walters / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 17, 2016Similar SpeciesCave Swallow
Adult
Cave Swallows have paler, buff-colored faces and throats, whereas Cliff Swallows have rusty faces and a dark throat. They also tend to have darker cinnamon rumps than Cliff Swallows.
© Tom Johnson / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, May 05, 2017Similar SpeciesBarn Swallow
Adult (American)
Barn Swallows are similarly colored, but have longer, forked tails and longer, slimmer bodies than Cliff Swallows.
© Christopher Clark / Macaulay LibraryWashington, May 16, 2017Similar SpeciesNorthern Rough-winged Swallow
Adult
Northern Rough-winged Swallows lack the Cliff Swallow’s pale rump and dark throat.
© Kyle Lima / Macaulay LibraryMaine, May 11, 2017Similar SpeciesChimney Swift
Adult/immature
Chimney Swifts are smaller than swallows, with narrower, more curved wings and much stiffer wingbeats. They are dark overall unlike Cliff Swallows, which have whitish underparts.
© Steve Calver / Macaulay LibraryGeorgia, June 08, 2017Similar SpeciesVaux's Swift
Adult/immature
Vaux's Swifts are smaller than swallows, with narrower, more curved wings and much stiffer wingbeats. They are much more uniformly dark overall than Cliff Swallows.
© Roger Zachary / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, June 29, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Swallows(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Hirundinidae)
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