Angola swallow
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| Angola swallow | |
|---|---|
 | |
| At Munhango, Angola | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Hirundinidae |
| Genus: | Hirundo |
| Species: | H. angolensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Hirundo angolensis Barboza du Bocage, 1868 | |
The Angola swallow (Hirundo angolensis) is a species of swallow that is native to the Afrotropics.
Description[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
It is found in Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
Relationships[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
-
Nominate subsp. from illustration by R. B. Sharpe (1894) -
Subsp. arcticincta with deeper tail-fork & paler belly plumage -
Egg of Angola swallow
References[edit]
- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Hirundo angolensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22712272A94326670. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22712272A94326670.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ a b Turner, A. "Angolan Swallow (Hirundo angolensis)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ a b "Angolan Swallow (Hirundo angolensis) - HBW 9, p. 666". The Internet Bird Collection (IBC). Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ "Angola Swallow (arcticincta)". avibase. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
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