Photo: http://www.birdphotos.com / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-winged Swallow
Tachycineta albiventer
White-winged Swallow (Tachycineta albiventer) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-winged Swallow (Tachycineta albiventer) is a member of the Hirundinidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 17.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Hirundinidae Swallows, Martins
- Genus Tachycineta
- Species albiventer
Quick facts
- Weight
- 17.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Hirundinidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-winged Swallow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of rivers and riverside habitats, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The White-winged Swallow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-winged Swallow (Tachycineta albiventer) is a species of bird in the Hirundinidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA Colombia to n Argentina.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 17.7 g, with a wing length of about 10.1 cm and a tail of around 4.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 11.7 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-winged Swallow?
The White-winged Swallow is a small bird that weighs around 17.7 g.
Where does the White-winged Swallow live?
The White-winged Swallow is found across South America with a range covering SA Colombia to n Argentina, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the White-winged Swallow belong to?
The White-winged Swallow (Tachycineta albiventer) belongs to the Hirundinidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the White-winged Swallow eat?
The White-winged Swallow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the White-winged Swallow migrate?
The White-winged Swallow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-winged Swallow endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the White-winged Swallow make?
1 real field recording of the White-winged Swallow — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-winged Swallow's range?
The White-winged Swallow has a mapped global range of about 11.7 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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