White-rumped swallow

Tachycineta leucorrhoa

Photo by Carlos Gussoni (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
white-rumped swallow (en); andorinha-de-sobre-branco (pt); hirondelle à diadème (fr); golondrina cejiblanca (es); weißbürzelschwalbe (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Hirundinidae

Range:
This species is found from central Brazil and Bolivia to north-eastern Argentina.

Size:
These birds are 13-14 cm long and weigh about 20 g.

Habitat:
The white-rumped swallow is found over open habitats, usually near water, namely wet grasslands, marshes, coastal lagoons, tropical moist forests, dry savannas, and also pastures, and urban areas. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.100 m.

Diet:
They are strictly insectivorous, mainly catching their prey on the wing. They are known to eat termite alates, ants, flies and bees.

Breeding:
White-rumped swallows nest in natural or man-made cavities, which they line with grasses, leaves and feathers. There the female lays 4-6 white eggs which are incubated for about 16 days. The chicks fledge around 24 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common. The population is suspected to be increasing owing to the increasing availability of artificial nest sites.

Banded martin

Riparia cincta

Photo by Ian White (Flickr)

Common name:
banded martin (en); andorinha-das-barreiras-de-colar (pt); hirondelle à collier (fr); avión cinchado (es); weißbrauen-uferschwalbe (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Hirundinidae

Range:
This African species is found breeding from Ethiopia, through Kenya, D.R. Congo and Angola, and south to South Africa. The more southern population migrate north to winter in from Gabon and the Central African Republic to Ghana.

Size:
These birds are 15-17 cm long and weigh around 25 g.

Habitat:
The banded martin is mostly found in dry grasslands, scrubland, marshes, dry savannas and pastures. It is rarely observed over rocky shorelines or along the borders of estuaries. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 3.000 m.

Diet:
They take flying insects on the wing, by flying slowly near the ground, and often hawking prey disturbed by zebras, antelope or cattle. They are known to take beetles, moths, flies, mantid nymphs and lacewings.

Breeding:
Banded martins breed in August-March. The nest is a structure made of feathers and grass, placed in a chamber connected to a upward-sloping tunnel, which is dug into a stream bank, erosion gully or sand pit.There the female lays 2-4 glossy white eggs, which are incubated by both parents. There is no information regarding the length of the incubation period. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 21-24 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is  is described as generally uncommon, although locally common in parts of East Africa and frequent in Ethiopia. The population is suspected to be increasing owing to agricultural development.

White-throated swallow

Hirundo albigularis

Photo by Jeff Poklen (PBase)

Common name:
white-throated swallow (en); andorinha-de-garganta-branca (pt); hirondelle à gorge blanche (fr); golondrina gorgiblanca (es); weißkehlschwalbe (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Hirundinidae

Range:
This species is found breeding in across South Africa and marginally across the border into southern Namibia and southern Botswana. They migrate north to winter from Angola to Zimbabwe, Mozambique and southern D.R. Congo.

Size:
These birds are 14-17 cm long and weigh 20-25 g.

Habitat:
The white-throated swallow is generally found in open grasslands, fynbos scrublands and and savannas, especially along rivers, streams and lakes. They are also found in rural gardens, urban areas and artificial reservoirs.

Diet:
They feed exclusively on flying insects, which typically catch on the wing, but may sometimes hunt on the ground and along shorelines. They are known to eat flies, wasps, beetles and termite alates.

Breeding:
White-throated swallows are monogamous, solitary nesters. They breed in August-March and nest in a small, open cup made of mud pellets and lined with fine grass, rootlets, hair and feathers. The nest is placed on a vertical rock face or on a man-made structure such as a water tank, bridge, dam wall or building. The female lays 2-5 white eggs with brown and blue blotches, which she incubates alone for 15-18 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 18-25 days after hatching, but will continue to roost on the nest for another 2 weeks. Each pair may raise multiple broods in a season.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as generally common. The population is suspected to be increasing following a possible range expansion during the 20th century.

House martin

Delichon urbicum

(Photo from Wild About Britain)

Common name:
house martin (en); andorinha-dos-beirais (pt); hirondelle de fenêtre (fr); avión común (es); mehlschwalbe (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Hirundinidae


Range:
This species breeds throughout most of Europe and the middle and northern latitudes of Asia, and also in north-western Africa and the Middle East. They migrate south to winter in Africa south of the Sahara, in the Red Sea coast and in south-east Asia.


Size:
These birds are 12-13 cm long and have a wingspan of 26-29 cm. They weigh 16-25 g.


Habitat:
House martins are mostly found in open habitats with low vegetation, namely pastures and grasslands, urban areas, agricultural areas and rocky areas. During winter they are also found over dry savannas. They can occur from sea level up to an altitude of 4.500 m.


Diet:
They mainly catch insects on the wing, taking flies, mosquitoes, flying ants, beetles, bugs, butterflies, mayflies, aphids and spiders.


Breeding:
House martins breed in March-June. The nest is a neat closed convex cup fixed below a suitable ledge, with a narrow opening at the top. The nests are made of mud and lined with grasses and fine materials. They often breed colonially with several nests built in contact with each other. The female lays 4-5 white eggs, which are incubated by both parents for 13-19 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 19-32 days after hatching. Each pair typically raises 2 broods per season.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and a global population of 60-290 million individuals. The population is suspected to be decreasing, and data from 21 European countries indicates a moderate decline since 1980.

Cliff swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

(Photo from Birds)

Common name:
cliff swallow (en); andorinha-de-dorso-acanelado (pt); hirondelle à front blanc (fr); golondrina de alcantarilla (es); fahlstirnschwalbe (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Hirundinidae


Range:
This species breeds throughout most of North America, migrating south to winter in South America, from Venezuela to northern Argentina.


Size:
These birds are 13-15 cm long and have a wingspan of 28-30 cm. They weigh 19-34 g.


Habitat:
They breed in open canyons and river valleys with rocky cliffs, but forage over various habitats including farmland, pastures, wetlands, grasslands, forests and urban areas. They can be found from sea level up to an altitude of 3.200 m.


Diet:
Cliff swallows hunt various insects on the wing.


Breeding:
These birds are monogamous and form large colonies. The nest is a covered bowl made of mud pellets, with a small entrance tunnel on one side. It is lined with grass and placed on vertical walls, natural or man-made, or sometimes on barns, bridges, and other large buildings. The female lays 3-6 creamy white eggs with brown speckles, which are incubated by both parents for 14-16 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 21-23 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and a global population estimated at 90 million individuals. The population has undergone a small increase over the last 4 decades.