Cliff Swallow

Description:

Small, stocky swallow, dark blue-gray upperparts, pale orange-brown rump, buff underparts. Forehead is white or buff while throat, sides of face are orange-brown. Crown is blue-black, bill is short and black. Tail is dark and squared. Legs and feet are gray. Catches insects in flight.

Habitat:

The Sweetwater Marsh Unit of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The San Diego National Wildlife Refuge. Complex supports habitats as diverse as coastal marshes and uplands, chaparral, coastal sage scrub, oak woodland, freshwater marsh, rare vernal pool wetlands, and the incredible breeding and nesting grounds for a suite of migratory and resident bird species in south San Diego Bay. These refuges help conserve the rich biological diversity and quality of life for which the region is famous.