Cave Swallow

Petrochelidon fulva

Cave Swallows first appeared in Florida as vagrants in March-1890 and were first found nesting there in 1987. The earliest records from Texas came in 1910, with nesting documented in 1914. Records show the first nesting colony for New Mexico in 1930. Since 1966, Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico has hosted a huge colony of these birds. 

We believe that expanding highway infrastructure has helped the Cave Swallow to expand its range. No longer relegated to caves for breeding, this species takes to nesting under bridges in Texas and Florida. Beginning in the 1990s, Cave Swallows have been turning up thousands of miles outside their southern range in the fall. We have found them as far north as Canada’s Maritime Provinces. 

There are two different forms of this species in the United States. The southwestern form is the largest. These have grayish sides and a very pale throat. The Caribbean form reaches Florida. These have tawny sides, with a darker chestnut face, and a darker rump.

Some scientists believe we should merge the genus for this species into Hirundo. Today’s taxonomists recognize six subspecies of Cave Swallow.

• P. f. pallida lives in the southern USA from southern New Mexico and Texas to north-central Mexico. Some migrate to Central America along the Pacific coast.

• P. f. cavicola lives in Florida and Cuba.

• P. f. citata lives in southern Mexico.

• P. f. fulva lives in Hispaniola.

• P. f. Poeciloma lives in Jamaica.

• P. f. Puertoricensis lives in Puerto Rico.

Swallows can be notoriously difficult to photograph. In flight, these fast flyers defy the camera’s ability to follow their movements. And ‘fast flight’ is where they spend most of their time. While driving the long stretches of highway Texas is famous for, I passed up many opportunities to spend time with these birds. It was not until mid-July 2023 that I found myself in the company of these birds feeding on ground insects (ants, I believe), that I found an opportunity to capture images of these birds. I was entering Kickapoo Caverns State Park when I noticed a flurry of bird activity at the side of the road leading into the park.