Cecropis semirufa
The Red-breasted Swallow (Cecropis semirufa) is a striking passerine bird of the family Hirundinidae, known for its glossy blue-black upperparts and rich, unstreaked rufous-chestnut underparts. Measuring approximately 18-20 cm in length, including its relatively long, moderately forked tail streamers, and with a wingspan of 32-34 cm, it is a medium-sized swallow. Key field marks include the uniform rufous belly, which extends up to a dark throat patch, and its characteristic mud-built, retort...
This species primarily inhabits open country, including savanna, grassland, and cultivated areas, often near water sources and frequently utilizing human-made structures for nesting. It is typically found at low to mid-elevations, generally below 2,000 meters.
The diet of the Red-breasted Swallow consists almost exclusively of flying insects, including flies, beetles, moths, ants, and bees, all caught deftly in mid-air.
Red-breasted Swallows are highly diurnal, spending much of their day hawking insects in graceful, agile flight. Outside the breeding season, they are gregarious, forming large communal roosts, often in reed beds or on power lines. During the breeding period, they become more territorial, defendin...
The Red-breasted Swallow boasts a wide distribution across sub-Saharan Africa, generally avoiding the dense rainforests of the Congo Basin and the most arid deserts. Its breeding range extends broadly from Senegal in West Africa, eastward through the Sahel and Horn of Africa (including Ethiopia a...
Least Concern
- The scientific name *semirufa* literally translates to 'half-red,' referencing the distinctive and extensive rufous coloration of its underparts. - Unlike many swallows, it has significantly benefited from human infrastructure, frequently building its elaborate mud nests under bridges, culverts...