And as I already posted, Turner and Rose (in Swallows and Martins
1989) mention torpor in swallows. They cite the following:

Mead. 1970. Winter quarters of British swallows. Bird Study 17:229-40.

Prinzinger and Siedle. 1986. Experimental proof of torpidity in young
House Martins. Journ f?r Ornith 127:95-96.

Prinzinger and Siedle. 1988. Ontogeny of metabolism, thermoregulation
and torpor in the House Martin and its ecological significance.
Oecologica 761:307-12.

Bryant and Westerterp. 1983. Short-term variability in energy turnover
by breeding House Martins: a study using doubly labeled water.
J Animal Ecology 52:525-43.

Charles Swift wrote:
>
> I just did a quick google search and found a number of references to torpor
> in swallows. I didn't investigate much beyond that but it makes sense that
> early arriving or late departing insectivores, such as swallows, may use
> this strategy during periods of inclement weather (which can occur at
> northern lattitudes even throughout summer). Or maybe it has more to do with
> the fact they rely mostly on flying insects. It does not neccesarily follow
> that hibernation also occurs but who knows - it would be hard to prove the
> negative.
>
> thanks, Charles.
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Charles E. Swift
> charless at moscow.com
> Moscow, ID, USA
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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