South African Swallow
Petrochelidon spilodera
A chunky, martin-like dark blue and reddish-brown cliff swallow with a rusty rump and undertail and a smudgy dark collar that may be incomplete. Colonies of 10-1000 pairs nest under bridges, in culverts, in quarries, and occasionally on cliffs, often near water. After breeding in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe between September and April, the species migrates to the southern Congo basin for the austral winter. It forages over grassland, lightly wooded savanna, and arid shrubland for insects. The similar Red-throated Swallow is smaller and more slender than the South African Swallow, with white tail spots, a uniform rufous throat, and a breast that lacks dark mottling.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Petrochelidon spilodera
- Authority
- (Sundevall, 1850)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Hirundinidae
- Genus
- Petrochelidon
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- AF : Namibia; Zimbabwe; se Botswana to South Africa
- Non-breeding range
- to s Congo and c DR Congo
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Bare-eyed Ground Dove
Metriopelia morenoi
Medium-sized, terrestrial dove of the high Andes in NW Argentina. Note bright orange-red facial skin and plain wings. From other ground doves in range by plain wings and extensive bare skin around the eye. Prefers rocky slopes and grasslands, but fairly tolerant to human settlements.
Crimson-rumped Waxbill
Estrilda rhodopyga
Small gray-brown finch with fiery reddish patches all over the body. Combination of bright red eyerbrow and similarly colored rump patch distinguishes this species from other waxbills. Inhabits both dry and wet areas with extensive tall and grassy vegetation. Associates with other waxbills, as well as other species of estrildid finches. Native to eastern Africa; introduced to Singapore and parts of Japan.
Black Wheatear
Oenanthe leucura
Distinctive large, dark wheatear with a strong bill. Males are largely all black except for a white tail, rump, and vent. The tail has a black center and terminal band. Females are similar, but browner. Normally encountered foraging on the ground in rocky areas with steep slopes. Shy and typically flies uphill when flushed. Song is a pleasant warble, sometimes with a buzzy or trilled element. Calls include a smooth whistle “eee eee.”
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.