Hirundo lucida
The Red-chested Swallow (Hirundo lucida) is a striking passerine bird, a compact and elegant aerial insectivore measuring approximately 12-13 cm (4.7-5.1 in) in length. Its most distinctive features include glossy blue-black upperparts and a deeply forked tail, contrasting beautifully with its rich rufous or chestnut underparts, spanning from the chin and throat to the upper breast. A clean white belly and pristine white undertail coverts further aid in identification, distinguishing it from ...
This species favors open country, including savannas, grasslands, and agricultural areas, often in close proximity to water sources or human settlements like villages and towns. It typically occurs at low to moderate elevations.
The Red-chested Swallow is an obligate insectivore, subsisting almost entirely on flying insects. It primarily catches various flies, beetles, moths, ants, and bees in mid-air.
Red-chested Swallows are highly diurnal, spending their days in continuous, agile flight, expertly hawking insects. Outside the breeding season, they often form large, communal roosts in reedbeds, trees, or under eaves of buildings. They are adept aerial foragers, making swift, acrobatic turns an...
The Red-chested Swallow is primarily distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, with isolated populations also found in the Arabian Peninsula. Its core breeding and resident range extends from Mauritania, Senegal, and Gambia in West Africa, eastward through the Sahel to Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia i...
Least Concern
- Unlike many of its close relatives, the Red-chested Swallow is largely resident, undertaking only short-distance, localized movements rather than extensive migrations. - Its scientific name, *Hirundo lucida*, translates to 'bright swallow,' a fitting description for its glossy blue-black upperp...