Cecropis badia
The Rufous-bellied Swallow (Cecropis badia) is a medium-sized passerine, measuring approximately 18-20 cm in length, distinguished by its strikingly rich, deep rufous-chestnut underparts that extend from the chin to the undertail coverts. Its upperparts, including the crown, mantle, and back, are a glossy dark blue-black, creating a sharp contrast with its prominent rufous-orange rump. A long, deeply forked tail with dark streamers completes its elegant aerial profile. This species is taxonom...
Primarily inhabits open country, cultivated areas, and forest clearings, often near water and human settlements. Found from lowlands up to around 1,000 meters elevation.
Exclusively aerial insects, including flies, beetles, ants, and termites, which are captured skillfully in flight.
This species is diurnal, exhibiting active aerial foraging throughout the day and often forming large, communal roosts on wires, trees, or ledges outside the breeding season. Its foraging strategy involves agile, high-speed aerial pursuit of flying insects, typically at higher altitudes than many...
The Rufous-bellied Swallow is a resident species found across much of the Malay Peninsula, including southern Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. Its distribution also extends to the large Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Borneo (encompassing parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei). Th...
Least Concern
- The Rufous-bellied Swallow often builds its distinctive retort-shaped mud nests on man-made structures like bridges, culverts, and buildings. - It was once considered a subspecies of the widespread Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) but is now widely recognized as a distinct species. - Its v...