cliff swallow

American  

noun

1. any of several North American birds of the genus Hirundo, especially H. pyrrhonota, that live colonially and build bottle-shaped mud nests on cliffs and walls.

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cliff swallow British  

noun

1. an American swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota, that has a square-tipped tail and builds nests of mud on cliffs, walls, etc

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Etymology

Origin of cliff swallow

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cliff swallow

Four birds have been elusive: the hairy woodpecker, bank swallow, cliff swallow and northern rough-winged swallow.

From Washington Times ● Mar. 19, 2016

The cliff swallow seems less a child of the sky and sun, probably because its sheen and glow are less, and its shape and motions less arrowy.

From Under the Maples by Burroughs, John

The phœbe-bird and the cliff swallow are marked examples.

From Ways of Nature by Burroughs, John

The barn swallow is heard first, followed in a day or two by the squeaking of the cliff swallow.

From Wake-Robin by Burroughs, John

The cliff swallow will stick her mud nest under the eaves of a barn where the boards are planed so smooth that the nest sooner or later is bound to fall.

From Ways of Nature by Burroughs, John