cliff swallow

noun

1. any of several North American birds of the genus Hirundo, especially H. pyrrhonota, that live colonially and build bottle-shaped mud nests on cliffs and walls.

cliff swallow

noun

1. an American swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota, that has a square-tipped tail and builds nests of mud on cliffs, walls, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of cliff swallow¹

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25

Example Sentences

The mouth of the cave is “guarded” by the nests of cliff swallows, who dart above the river collecting insects to feed their young.

From Washington Times

The wings of cliff swallows are becoming shorter, enabling them to avoid being killed by cars.

From The Guardian

Work on state bridges can’t start once nesting season begins for cliff swallows, a protected species that frequently makes its home on the underside of bridges.

From Washington Times

As an example, she said work on state bridges can’t start once nesting season begins for cliff swallows, a protected species that frequently makes its home on the underside of bridges.

From Seattle Times

Researchers in the US found that the wingspan of American cliff swallows, which took up the habit of colonising concrete highway bridges in the 1980s, had decreased by about two millimetres a decade since then.

From The Guardian