>>From Russell Rogers, Seattle WA, rrogers at halcyon.com
>
>This past weekend Steve Mlodinow and I saw an apparent hybrid Cliff X
>Barn Swallow at Deer Lagoon on Whidbey Island. The bird had the buffy
>rump of a Cliff, and the forked tail with white tail spots of a Barn. The
>face patern resembeled a Cliff with, but the forhead was orange, not
>buffy. The underside was orange like a barn. We watched it off and on for
>about 15 minutes. It was actively feeding with a mixed flock of most Barn
>Swallows. Other swallows were Tree, Violet-green, Rough-winged, and Cliff.
>
Wow, good find!

Hybrids between these two species are extremely rare but there are at least
two specimens known, one from TExas the other from Pennsylvania. However,
hybrids between Cave and Barn swallows are more common (look up Martin, R.F.
1980. Analysis of hybridization between the hirundinid genera Hirundo and
Petrochelidon in Texas. Auk 97: 148-159.). Now the question is, could it
have been a hybrid Cave x Barn?

Take care,

Alvaro Jaramillo
Half Moon Bay, CA

alvaro at quake.net