Andean Swallow

Photo by Stanley Jones
Ticlio Pass eastern-slope of the Central Andes, Junín, Peru, August 2017

Orochelidon andecola

Identification

Juvenile
Photo by Stanley Jones
Ticlio Pass eastern-slope of the Central Andes, Junín, Peru, August 2017

14 cm

• Bluish-black glossed crown and upperparts
• Brownish rump
• Brownish-black wings and tail
• Greyish-brown underparts

Distribution

Found in southern South America from Peru over Bolivia to Argentina and Chile.

Taxonomy

The taxonomic placement of this species has changed several times. It was formerly placed in genus Hirundo, then in Stelgidopteryx and now either in Haplochelidon or Orochelidon.

Subspecies

There are 2 subspecies^[1]:

• O. a. andecola:

• Andes of southern Peru (Cuzco, Puno and Arequipa) to northern Bolivia and Chile

• O. a. oroyae:

• Puna of central Peru

Habitat

Shrubland and grassland in high altitudes.

Behaviour

Breeding

Often uses holes or cracks in walls of houses for nesting.

Diet

Not completely know, but appears to be aerial insects individual or in small groups.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. SACC proposal to rearrange the taxonomy of South American Swallows
3. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved November 2014)

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Andean Swallow. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 9 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Andean_Swallow

External Links

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