Angolan swallow

The Angolan swallow (Hirundo angolensis) is a species of swallow that is native to the Afrotropics.

Angolan swallow

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Hirundinidae
Genus: Hirundo
Species:
H. angolensis
Binomial name
Hirundo angolensis

Description

They measure 15 cm and weigh 16 to 19 g. The plumage of the forehead, throat and upper breast is coloured deep rufous-chestnut. The crown and upperparts are a shiny steel-blue. Flight and tail feathers are black, the latter with large white windows.[2]

Behaviour

They frequent a variety of open habitats up to the fringes of forest, whether altered by man or natural. Their diet consists of a variety of flying insects. They may forage alone or in flocks, and emit a weak twittering. Their breeding season and abundance depends much on their region of residence, and a few undertake migrations.[2]

Range

It is found in Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

Relationships

It has been considered conspecific with the Red-chested swallow, but is generally taken as a full species in a species complex that includes Barn, Red-chested, Pacific, Welcome, White-throated and Ethiopian swallows.[3]

Subspecies

There are two subspecies, but intermediate forms occur:[3]

  • H. a. angolensis – type from Huíla Province, Angola
  • H. a. arcticincta Sharpe, 1891[4] – East Africa
  • nominate subsp.
  • subsp. arcticincta
    deeper tail-fork,
    paler belly plumage

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Hirundo angolensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. Turner, A. "Angolan Swallow (Hirundo angolensis)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  3. "Angolan Swallow (Hirundo angolensis) - HBW 9, p. 666". The Internet Bird Collection (IBC). Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  4. "Angola Swallow (arcticincta)". avibase. Retrieved 9 April 2016.


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