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- Cecropis daurica
Includes: West African Swallow Hirundo daurica
Identification
Warm buff underparts that vary geographically from plain to quite strongly streaked (especially in northern China). Dark, glossy-blue upperparts, noticeably interrupted by chestnut nape and pale rufous rump. Black vent and undertail coverts.
Similar Species
Lacks the dark red face and breast band with sharp contrast to pale belly of Barn Swallow. Looks more thickset in flight which also gives impression of being slower.
Distribution
Portugal and Spain to Japan, Nepal, India and tropical Africa.
Taxonomy
Previously included in genus Hirundo
Around ten subspecies recognized. Domicella from West Africa is sometimes split as West African Swallow.
Subspecies[1]
There are 10 Subspecies:
- C. d. daurica: Southern Siberia to Amur River, northern Mongolia, western China and Transbaikalia
- C. d. japonica: Korea, eastern and central China and Japan; migrant to coastal northern Australia
- C. d. nipalensis: Central Himalayas to south-western China (Yunnan), northern India and northern Myanmar
- C. d. erythropygia: Northern India (base of Himalayas to Nilgiri)
- C. d. hyperythra: Sri Lanka
- C. d. rufula: Iberian Peninsula to North Africa, Iran, Afghanistan and north-western India
- C. d. domicella: Senegambia to southern Sudan and extreme north-western Uganda
- C. d. kumboensis: Sierra Leone (Birwa Plateau) and Cameroon (Bamenda highlands)
- C. d. emini: Southern Sudan to eastern Zaire, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi
- C. d. melanocrissus: Highlands of Ethiopia
Habitat
Plains, grassland, rocky outcrops.
Behaviour
Breeding
They build nests with a tunnel entrance lined with mud, 3-6 eggs are laid. They normally nest under sea or inland cliff overhangs, in caves, rock clefts or under bridges.
Diet
The diet includes insects.
Vocalisation
Song: A twittering warble
<flashmp3>Hirundo daurica (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Wikipedia
- Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Red-rumped Swallow. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 6 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Red-rumped_Swallow
- Birdforum Id-forum thread discussing red-rumped swallow.
External Links