Angola swallow
Species of bird
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Angola swallow (Hirundo angolensis) is a species of swallow that is native to the Afrotropics.
| Angola swallow | |
|---|---|
| |
| At Munhango, Angola | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Hirundinidae |
| Genus: | Hirundo |
| Species: | H. angolensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Hirundo angolensis Barboza du Bocage, 1868 | |
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
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
Gallery
Nominate subsp. from illustration by R. B. Sharpe (1894)
Subsp. arcticincta with deeper tail-fork & paler belly plumage
Egg of Angola swallow
