Petrochelidon preussi
The Preuss's Cliff Swallow, *Petrochelidon preussi*, is a captivating passerine of the Hirundinidae family, immediately recognizable by its striking plumage and acrobatic flight. This small swallow measures approximately 12-13 cm in length, with a modest wingspan around 28-30 cm. Its upperparts, including the crown and mantle, are a glossy dark blue-black, contrasting sharply with a prominent rufous nuchal collar. A key field mark is its pale rufous or whitish rump patch, which stands out aga...
This species primarily inhabits open landscapes near cliffs, rocky outcrops, and human-made structures such as bridges and culverts, often close to rivers or other water bodies. It can be found from lowland areas up to mid-elevations.
The diet of Preuss's Cliff Swallows consists almost exclusively of various flying insects, including flies, beetles, bees, and wasps, which they capture with remarkable precision during sustained aerial foraging.
Preuss's Cliff Swallows are highly social and diurnal birds, spending their days in continuous, graceful flight as they forage for insects. They are expert aerial hawkers, darting and weaving through the air with incredible agility to snatch prey on the wing. These swallows are obligate colonial ...
Preuss's Cliff Swallow is a resident species found across a broad swathe of West and Central Africa. Its breeding and year-round distribution extends from Sierra Leone and Guinea eastward through Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria. Further east, its range continues into Cameroo...
Least Concern
- Named after the German botanist and ornithologist, Paul Preuss, who explored West Africa. - These swallows are master architects, meticulously constructing complex bottle-shaped nests from hundreds of mud pellets. - They are highly colonial nesters, often building their nests in tightly packed ...