Cecropis abyssinica
The Lesser Striped Swallow (*Cecropis abyssinica*) is an elegant aerial insectivore, typically measuring 15-16 cm in length, including its distinctive long tail streamers, and weighing between 14-22 grams. This passerine bird is immediately identifiable by its glossy, dark blue upperparts, a striking rufous crown and nape, a rich chestnut throat and breast, and finely streaked white underparts, all contrasted by a bright rufous rump. A key field mark is its deeply forked tail, often with elon...
Found in open country, savannas, grasslands, and farmland, often closely associated with human settlements, bridges, culverts, and buildings. Occurs from sea level up to 3000 meters in montane regions.
Feeds almost exclusively on flying insects, including flies, beetles, ants, and termites, expertly hawked in mid-air.
Lesser Striped Swallows are diurnal aerial insectivores, spending much of their day in graceful, agile flight. They are known for their distinctive gourd-shaped mud nests, which feature a narrow entrance tunnel and are often built colonially or semi-colonially on vertical surfaces under eaves, br...
The Lesser Striped Swallow is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, with its breeding range extending from Senegal and Gambia in the west, eastward across the continent to Eritrea and Somalia, and southward through Central Africa to South Africa. It is largely a resident species throughou...
Least Concern
- The long tail streamers of male Lesser Striped Swallows are thought to be a signal of male quality, with females often preferring mates with longer, more symmetrical streamers. - Their elaborate, gourd-shaped mud nests can weigh several kilograms and may take weeks to construct, meticulously bu...