How to identify the Cliff Swallow

To correctly identify the Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota), check each of these features. Birds can be tricky: habit, habitat, and call often confirm a sighting that a single photo cannot.

Size at a glance

Length

13-15 cm (5.1-5.9 in)

Wingspan

28-33 cm (11-13 in)

Weight

19-28 g (0.67-0.99 oz)

Physical features to check

1. 1

   Plumage

   Overall feather coloration and pattern.

   Adults have a dark, iridescent blue-black back and crown, a rufous (reddish-brown) throat and sides of the neck, a pale buffy-white belly, and a distinctive square-tipped tail. The most striking feature is the pale, often creamy-white, forehead patch and a dark chestnut patch on the rump.

2. 2

   Beak shape

   Shape and color of the bill: a key field mark.

   Small, flattened, and triangular, adapted for catching insects in flight. Black in color.

3. 3

   Eye color

   Iris color and any distinctive eye markings.

   Dark brown.

4. 4

   Leg color

   Leg and foot color.

   Dark gray to black.

5. 5

   Distinguishing features

   Standout features that separate this species.

   Creamy-white forehead patch, dark chestnut rump patch, square-tipped tail (not forked like Barn Swallow), and a dark throat contrasting with a pale belly. The overall shape is stocky compared to other swallows.

6. 6

   Juvenile appearance

   How young birds differ from adults.

   Juveniles resemble adults but have duller plumage. The forehead patch is less distinct and often buffy or brownish, and the throat and rump patches are paler and less defined. They may also show pale feather edgings on the back and wings.

7. 7

   Seasonal changes

   Plumage variation between breeding and non-breeding seasons.

   No significant seasonal plumage changes. Plumage may appear slightly duller due to wear towards the end of the breeding season.

8. 8

   Sexual dimorphism

   How males and females differ.

   Males and females are generally monomorphic in plumage, appearing very similar. Males may have slightly brighter iridescence on the back.

Key field marks

• Forehead Patch. Look for the distinctive pale, often creamy-white, patch on the forehead, contrasting with the dark crown.
• Rump Patch. Identify the dark chestnut-colored patch on the rump, which is a key field mark.
• Tail Shape. Observe the tail, which is square-tipped or only very slightly notched, unlike the deeply forked tail of the Barn Swallow.
• Throat Color. Note the dark rufous (reddish-brown) throat, which contrasts with the pale belly.
• Nesting Behavior. Their gourd-shaped mud nests built in large colonies under eaves, bridges, or cliffs are a strong indicator of their presence.
• Flight Style. Watch for their agile, often swirling flight in flocks, especially when foraging for insects.

Explore the Cliff Swallow