Cave Swallow Petrochelidon pelodoma
Flight call description A descending call (a pure-toned "psuer" or a more husky "nhew") and a soft, rising call ("swheet" or "nhwit"). See Subspecies.
Fig.1. Florida June 4, 2001 (WRE).
"Psuer" calls from bird of West Indian population (P. p. fulva group) in flight.
This call-type appears to be distinctive to the West Indian population.
Fig.2. Florida June 4, 2001 (WRE).
Descending ("nhew") call from bird of West Indian population (P. p. fulva group) in flight.
Fig.3. Texas April 23, 2001 (MO).
Descending ("nhew") call from bird of mainland population (P. p. pelodoma) in flight.
Fig.4. Florida June 4, 2001 (WRE).
Rising ("swheet") call from bird of West Indian population (P. p. fulva group) in flight.
Fig.5. Texas April 23, 2001 (MO).
Rising ("nhit") call from bird of mainland population (P. p. pelodoma) in flight.
Examples
Diurnal calling sequences:
1. Florida June 4, 2001 (WRE). Birds of the West Indian race in feeding flight near breeding colony. One gives the descending call type (pure-toned "psuer" calls) and the other gives the rising "swheet" call type.
2. Florida June 4, 2001 (WRE). Descending and rising calls. Same colony as in ex.1.
3. Florida June 4, 2001 (WRE). Variety of descending "nhew" calls and a few rising "swheet" calls. Same colony as in ex.1. Northern Mockingbird in the background.
4. Texas April 23, 2001 (MO). Rising calls from birds flying near breeding colony under bridge. Great-tailed Grackle and Couch's Kingbird calling in the background.
5. Texas April 23, 2001 (MO). Birds in flight giving descending and a few rising calls. Same colony as in Ex.4. Brown-crested Flycatcher calling in the background.
6. Texas April 23, 2001 (MO). Birds in flight giving rising calls. Same colony as in Ex.4. Laughing Gull calling in the background.
Similar species Descending call is generally more pure-toned and higher than Cliff Swallow. Rising call is fairly distinctive though at a distance may sound similar to Barn Swallow's "vwit" call, which is lower and shorter than Cave.
Behavior Primarily a diurnal migrant. Flight calls are given regularly by perched and flying birds during the day. Descending call is prevalent on the breeding grounds but rising call is prevalent at other seasons. Not known to give flight calls at night.
Subspecies Descending call is typically lower, less descending, and more pure-toned (e.g., "psuer") in West Indian populations (P. p. fulva group), and higher, more descending, and huskier (e.g., "nhew") in mainland populations (P. p. pelodoma). Note, however, that some West Indian birds do give a huskier, more descending variation. Rising call is higher, sweeter, and more evenly rising (e.g., "swheet") in West Indian populations, and lower, huskier, and more sharply rising at the end (e.g., "nhwit") in mainland populations. Some overlap may exist in both call types.