Photo: Richard Bowdler Sharpe / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
White-bibbed Swallow
Hirundo nigrita
White-bibbed Swallow (Hirundo nigrita) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The White-bibbed Swallow (Hirundo nigrita) is a member of the Hirundinidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 18.3 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 Hirundo
- Species nigrita
Quick facts
- Weight
- 18.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Hirundinidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-bibbed Swallow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The White-bibbed Swallow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-bibbed Swallow (Hirundo nigrita) is a member of the Hirundinidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Sierra Leone to w Uganda, s DRCongo and n Angola.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 18.3 g, with a wing length of about 10.7 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 4 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-bibbed Swallow?
The White-bibbed Swallow is a small bird that weighs around 18.3 g.
Where does the White-bibbed Swallow live?
The White-bibbed Swallow is found across Africa with a range covering AF Sierra Leone to w Uganda, s DRCongo and n Angola, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the White-bibbed Swallow belong to?
The White-bibbed Swallow (Hirundo nigrita) belongs to the Hirundinidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the White-bibbed Swallow eat?
The White-bibbed Swallow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the White-bibbed Swallow migrate?
The White-bibbed Swallow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-bibbed 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.
How large is the White-bibbed Swallow's range?
The White-bibbed Swallow has a mapped global range of about 4 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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