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Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
The Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) breeds across most of the United States, Canada and Mexico. The species winters in South America. These birds typically return to their breeding ranges in March and April, and sometimes get surprised by lingering cold weather. The first 6 shots on this page show Cliff Swallows on a paved road at Lake Arrowhead State Park, Clay Co., Texas in early April, 2007. After several weeks of warm weather, a very cold and wet weather front left these birds hungry and exhausted. The temperature was 38 degrees F. when these shots were taken. It warmed up a few days later and I hope they survived.
The Cliff Swallows in flight in the next six images were photographed at Bear River N.W.R., Box Elder Co., Utah, in June, 2007, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 500mm F/4 L IS lens and 1.4X extender.
The next three shots show an adult perched in reeds near a nesting area while the 4th and 5th shots at right show a juvenile bird at this same location. These images wee all taken at Bear River N.W.R., Box Elder Co., Utah, in June, 2007, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 500mm F/4 L IS lens and 1.4X extender.
The Cliff Swallows in the next two shots were nesting under a highway bridge over the Gila River in Safford, Graham Co., Arizona, in May, 2008. These shots were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 70-200mm F/2.8 L IS lens.
The next 2 shots of Cliff Swallows at their nests were taken in Gonzales Co., Texas, in June, 2008, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender. These nests were under a bridge over the Guadalupe River.
The next 5 shots show Cliff Swallows gathering mud to build their nests. These images were taken on the edge of the Guadalupe River near Cuero, De Witt Co., Texas, in April, 2010, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 1.4X extender.
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
nest building
Blanco River bridge at
Lindeman Road,
Blanco, Blanco Co., Texas
6 April 2013
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
nest building
Blanco River bridge at
Lindeman Road,
Blanco, Blanco Co., Texas
6 April 2013
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
nest building
Blanco River bridge at
Lindeman Road,
Blanco, Blanco Co., Texas
6 April 2013
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Collingsworth County Pioneer Park,
Collingsworth County, Texas
12 June 2016
Lat 34.9578, Lon -100.2217
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Collingsworth County Pioneer Park,
Collingsworth County, Texas
12 June 2016
Lat 34.9578, Lon -100.2217
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Collingsworth County Pioneer Park,
Collingsworth County, Texas
12 June 2016
Lat 34.9578, Lon -100.2217
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
along the Yadkin River,
Davie Co., North Carolina
10 May 2018
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
along the Yadkin River,
Davie Co., North Carolina
10 May 2018
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
along the Yadkin River,
Davie Co., North Carolina
10 May 2018