Cheramoeca leucosterna
The White-backed Swallow (*Cheramoeca leucosterna*) is a small, slender passerine endemic to Australia, measuring approximately 13-15 cm in length and weighing a delicate 10-15 grams. Its striking plumage makes it easily identifiable: a sooty blackish-brown cap and upperparts contrast sharply with a brilliant white rump and underparts, including a distinctive white back – a feature unique among swallows. Its tail is moderately forked, typical of its family. Taxonomically, it belongs to the Hi...
Found primarily in arid and semi-arid open country, often near water sources, riverbeds, and sandy or clay banks suitable for burrow nesting.
Exclusively insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of aerial insects such as flies, beetles, moths, and winged ants, caught on the wing.
White-backed Swallows are diurnal, agile aerial insectivores, spending most of their day hawking for prey with graceful, erratic flight, often low over water or open ground. They typically roost communally in dense vegetation or occasionally in disused burrows. While they maintain small nesting t...
The White-backed Swallow is endemic to mainland Australia, boasting a widespread distribution across the vast arid and semi-arid interior. Its range spans inland Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and the southern half of the Northern Territory. While gener...
Least Concern
- The White-backed Swallow is the only swallow species in the world that is the sole member of its genus, *Cheramoeca*, highlighting its unique evolutionary path. - True to its name, it possesses a brilliant white back, a distinctive feature that sets it apart from all other swallows globally. - ...