English and Scientific names:	Cave Swallow (Petrochelidon fulva)
Number of individuals:	1 adult
Locality: LOUISIANA:	Jeff Davis Parish
Specific Locality:	About 2 mile SW of Thornwell, near intersection of Cherokee and HWY 99
Date(s) when observed:	10/21/06
Time(s) of day when observed:	about 11:00 am
Reporting observer and address:	Paul Conover Lafayette, LA
Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):	Dave Patton
Other observers who independently identified the bird(s)
Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):	Excellent-Fair. It was partly cloudy. When I first saw the bird, there was cloud cover but bright light coming through which gave excellent even lighting. When the bird rose up, the sun came out, and the bird was silhouetted except at certain angles.
Optical equipment:	Zeiss 10 x 40 binoculars
Distance to bird(s):	about 30 meters at closest
Duration of observation:	about 3 minutes
Habitat:	Rice field in the process of being cut. There was a flock of hundreds of swallows feeding low over the fields.
Behavior of bird:	Came in from the west, flew low over the field, swooped up and circled the field a few times, then headed up and towards the east. When the bird flew in low, I recognized as a Petrochelidon and put my glass on it. I had the light to my back, and the bird against the backdrop of a rice field. The bird flew towards me, then by me. It was below eye level, and give me views from head-on, profile, and rump as it passed me and banked. I was able to get optimal views of the throat and sides of head in great light against a uniform, solid background.
Description:	A stout, square-tailed swallow; flight direct on the level, flapping strongly then soaring when it ascended. Dorsal color overall dark, except for buffy-brownish rump and pale nape. I didn’t note forehead color, but didn’t notice any strong contrast between forehead and crown. I also didn’t notice the exact color of the back, as I was concentrating mainly on the throat and head pattern, but my impression was that the back seemed normal for an adult bird. Ventrally the bird was whitish, except for the dingy undertail, and a pale, buffy throat and what appeared to be a slightly dingy area where the buff throat met the white at the sides of the breast. The buff of the throat continued upwards through the auriculars onto the pale nape, setting off the dark area of the crown and giving the bird a capped, not hooded, appearance. The buffy area was immaculate and even, without any flecking as might be found on a young Cliff. The bird had molt in the wings, with fresh inner primaries out to about primary 4 or 5, visible as a slight difference in length and color between sections, with the old outer primaries paler. This was the only Petrochelidon of the day for me, and I expected it to be a Cliff when I saw it coming in. When I saw the throat from a head-on angle I was surprised, and followed through as it glided past me. I was very able to eliminate the possibility of anything but buff in the chin, throat, and sides of face and nape.
Voice:	Not heard
Similar species:	The only similarly shaped and patterned swallow here is Cliff. Adult Cliffs have a more or less solidly dark head, including the throat. Young Cliffs can have pale throats and be confused with Caves, but aren’t rich buffy on the throat, and have at least some dark flecking on the chin or throat.
Photographs or tape recordings obtained?	None.
Previous experience with this species:	I’ve seen a number of times in Texas, and yearly for the last few years at the Sabine Bridge swallow colony.
Identification aids:	Consulted Pyle regarding the molting primaries.
This description is written from:	Details committed to memory this morning.
Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain:	Yes.
Reporter:	Paul Conover
Date and time:	9:00 PM, October 21, 2006