Red-rumped Swallow

Cecropis daurica

Today's animal is the Red-rumped Swallow, a bird that has a pretty wide distribution, and can be found across Africa, Europe, and Asia. Some birds of the species are migratory, while others (mostly in Africa and India) live in resident populations.

You can identify one of these birds by their cool coloration. They have reddish heads, blue backs, and a bright, red-orange rumps. Red-rumped Swallows are also sometimes referred to as Striated Swallows.

You can find these Swallows most commonly in grassland areas, flying about in search of dinner. They hunt from the air, picking off insects in flight.

One fact that I found particularly interesting was that these birds live in large groups outside of the breeding season, but do not colonize while nesting. many other birds do the exact opposite. They build small, spherical nests with tunnel openings, and lay 3-6 eggs at once.

IUCN Status : Least Concern
Location : Africa, Asia, Europe
Size : Body Length up to 7in (18cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves --Order : Passeriformes
Family : Hirundinidae -- Genus : Cecropis -- Species : C. daurica

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