ML128667491

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

We believe this bird is likely to be from the Petrochelidon fulva pallida group from Mexico and the southwestern US based on the relatively pale buffy orange coloration of the rump, throat and forehead, as well as the lack of any strong orange or cinnamon coloration in the flanks. These plumage characters were associated with three eastern vagrant specimens determined by mitochondrial haplotype to be from the P.f. pallida group by Engel et al. (2011). Engel et al (2011) further state that "Previous specimen records of vagrant Cave Swallows in eastern North America have primarily been identified as P. f. pallida, including autumn specimens from New York, New Jersey, Ontario, South Carolina, Virginia, and Ohio (McNair and Post 1999, Dinsmore and Farnsworth 2006, Spahn and Tetlow 2006, O'Brien 2007, Post 2008). There are winter specimens from South Carolina of P. f. pallida and an autumn specimen from Missouri in 1977 that was identified by measurements and plumage as P. f. fulva (Easterla 2008)." Comments on subspecific identification welcome. Reference: Engel, J.I., M.H. Hennen, C.C. Witt, and J.D. Weckstein. 2011. Affinities of Three Vagrant Cave Swallows from Eastern North America. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 123(4): 840-845. -Matthew Sarver and Lauren Morgens

Technical information

Model

NIKON D7000

ISO

640

Focal length

210 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/6.0

Shutter speed

1/2000 sec

Dimensions

554 pixels x 404 pixels

Original file size

30.08 KB