Hirundo dimidiata
The Pearl-breasted Swallow (Hirundo dimidiata) is a small, elegant passerine distinguished by its striking bicolored plumage. Measuring typically 13-14 cm in length with a wingspan of approximately 25-28 cm and weighing 11-15 grams, it exhibits glossy, iridescent blue-black upperparts that contrast sharply with pristine pearl-white underparts, including the throat and belly. Its tail is shallowly forked, less pronounced than its close relative, the Barn Swallow, a key field mark for identific...
Found in a variety of open habitats including savannas, grasslands, farmlands, and open woodlands, often near water sources or human habitation. Typically occurs at low to moderate elevations.
Primarily consumes flying insects such as flies, beetles, bugs, and moths, which are skillfully caught on the wing during acrobatic aerial pursuits.
Pearl-breasted Swallows are diurnal and highly social, often seen in pairs during breeding season but forming larger flocks outside of it, frequently roosting communally in reeds or trees. They are aerial insectivores, displaying graceful, agile flight as they hawk for insects low over fields or ...
The Pearl-breasted Swallow boasts a wide distribution across Southern and East-Central Africa. Its primary breeding range extends from South Africa northward through Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique, reaching into Angola, southern Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania,...
Least Concern
- The 'pearl-breasted' name aptly describes its striking, pristine white underparts, a key identification feature. - Unlike many swallows with deeply forked tails, the Pearl-breasted Swallow has a relatively shallow fork, giving it a slightly different silhouette in flight. - They are adaptable n...