Orochelidon murina
The Brown-bellied Swallow, *Orochelidon murina*, is a small, uniformly dusky aerial insectivore endemic to the high Andes. Measuring approximately 12-13 cm (about 5 inches) in length and weighing 10.5-12.8 grams, its plumage is characterized by sooty-black to dark brownish-gray upperparts and dull brown underparts, giving it its descriptive common name. It lacks the iridescent blues or stark white underparts typical of many other swallow species, making its muted coloration a key identificati...
This species primarily inhabits open, high-altitude environments in the Andes, including pastures, clearings, cliffs, and towns, typically at elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters.
Brown-bellied Swallows are obligate aerial insectivores, feeding exclusively on small flying insects caught on the wing.
Brown-bellied Swallows are highly social and diurnal, spending much of their day in continuous, agile flight, foraging for insects. They often form mixed-species flocks with other swallows and swifts, particularly during feeding and sometimes at communal roosts. Roosting typically occurs in dense...
The Brown-bellied Swallow is widely distributed throughout the high-altitude regions of the Andes mountain range in South America. Its extensive breeding range stretches from western Venezuela and across Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, extending south into Bolivia, northern Chile, and northwestern A...
Least Concern
- The Brown-bellied Swallow is a true "high-flier," regularly foraging and nesting at elevations exceeding 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) in the Andes. - Its dull, muted brown and sooty plumage is a key identifier, distinguishing it from the more iridescent or boldly marked swallows found at lower al...