Date: 12/13/25 7:57 am From: Joel Geier <clearwater...> Subject: Be on the lookout for Cave Swallows on southern NV CBCs
Hi folks,
Christmas Bird Count season is just around the corner, starting with the Pahranagat CBC tomorrow, December 14th. With warmer than average weather throughout the state predicted to last through December, this CBC season could be a good one for sightings of swallows.
Last year we had a report of 3 "Cliff Swallows" which got flagged by the national high-count editor, after I let it slip. Not only was that the highest Cliff Swallow count in the nation, it was the only CBC-season report anywhere north of Hermosillo in central Sonora, 200 km south of the border.
When I followed up with the observers, it turned out that they could not rule out Cave Swallow. That possibility wasn't even on their radar at the time. But it definitely will be this year!
Arguably even the Hermosillo report, though accepted by eBird, doesn't rule out Cave Swallow. The description, "golondrina con la rabadilla color canela, volando junto a otras" translates to English as, "a swallow with a cinnamon-colored rump, flying alongside others." The next one south of there, which does mention a dark throat, was in Guatemala.
Of course Cave Swallow would be a first state record for Nevada, but there have been two December records from southern California, and two from around Phoenix. And stranger things have happened: In early March of 2022, one very well-documented bird showed up here in western Oregon.
The national high-count editor is based in Texas. He noted that, in years past, Texas birders would often just assume that winter sightings of Petrochelidon sp. swallows were Cliff Swallows. But once awareness spread that Cave Swallows should be considered, practically all such sightings have turned out to be Cave Swallows.
SO ... if you're fortunate enough to spot something that looks like a Cliff Swallow, with a buffy rump, make sure to get a look at the throat and note whether it's light- or dark-colored!
With last winter's birds, for the purpose of the CBC we wound up "demoting" them to Cave/Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon sp.). I'm not sure who is the eBird editor for Clark County, but they might want to do the same.
Otherwise ... I appreciate all of the diligence that Nevada birders in general have shown in documenting unusual species for the CBC, and also in trying to sort out "Sage" Sparrows, "Western" Scrub-Jays etc in areas where there are overlapping possibilities.
I'll look forward to seeing what everyone finds in the next few weeks. With the current mild weather, who knows, we might even see swallows at Sheldon NWR!
Happy CBC season, Joel
-- Joel Geier Regional Christmas Bird Count editor for Nevada 38566 Hwy 99W Corvallis, OR 97330 tel +1 541 745-5821 <clearwater...>
