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Summary
Earlé R. A. 1986. The breeding biology of the South African Cliff Swallow. Ostrich 57: 138–156.
The South African Cliff Swallow Hirundo spilodera breeds in dense colonies usually under man-made concrete bridges. The clutch size is 1–4 eggs but most 4-egg clutches are probably the result of conspecific brood parasitism. The incubation period averages 14,6 days and the fledling period 24,1 days. Although only the female Cliff Swallow has a featherless brood-patch, both males and females incubate effectively. Nestlings reach a maximum weight of up to 31 g between 19 and 22 days, about 10 g more than average adult weights. This weight increase of nestlings is mostly the result of an increase in water content of the body. Both parents feed the chicks, with the highest rate of feeding during the midday hours. In all, 56% of all eggs laid produced flying young, with a recruitment rate of 0,9 young: 1 adult per season.
