Interesting Cliff Swallow Behaviour

Cliff Swallows

For the past few years, I have been staying at a motel in Terrace Bay Ontario (220 kilometers east of Thunder Bay) the night before running the Terrace Bay Breeding Bird Survey.

There always seems to be a big mud puddle in the driveway to the motel and this puddle is full of bird activity.

Cliff Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Cliff Swallow

What is going on?

Formerly restricted to canyons, foothills, and river valleys with natural cliff faces and overhangs, Cliff Swallows have spread into a wide variety of habitats by nesting on buildings, bridges and other human-made structures. To do this they need plenty of mud.

Cliff Swallow with mud

Here is what a colony looks like.

Cliff Swallow nests

Cliff Swallows continually flutter their wings above their backs while gathering mud.

Cliff Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Cliff Swallow

The theory is that Cliff Swallows flutter for 2 reasons.

  1. It reduces the risk of other Cliff Swallows stealing their mud.

Cliff Swallow

2. Because bending to pick up mud puts the females into mating position, wing fluttering reduces the risk of mating attempts while the females are gathering mud.

Cliff Swallow

Cliff Swallows were not the only birds present on this day.

Here is a European Starling bathing.

European Starling

European Starling

European Starling

Miles Hearn

1 thought on “Interesting Cliff Swallow Behaviour

  1. Florent boisvert

    J’ ai déjà lu que,en battant des ailes,L’ oiseau essaie d’ avoir le bon degré d’ humidité pour sa motte de terre.

    Reply

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