Photo: Gerry Zambonini / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-throated Swallow
Hirundo albigularis
White-throated Swallow (Hirundo albigularis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-throated Swallow (Hirundo albigularis) is a member of the Hirundinidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 21.8 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 albigularis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 21.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Hirundinidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-throated Swallow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The White-throated Swallow is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The White-throated Swallow (Hirundo albigularis) is a member of the Hirundinidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Botswana and Zimbabwe to s South Africa.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 21.8 g, with a wing length of about 12.6 cm and a tail of around 6.7 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 1.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-throated Swallow?
The White-throated Swallow is a small bird that weighs around 21.8 g.
Where does the White-throated Swallow live?
The White-throated Swallow is found across Africa with a range covering AF Botswana and Zimbabwe to s South Africa, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the White-throated Swallow belong to?
The White-throated Swallow (Hirundo albigularis) belongs to the Hirundinidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the White-throated Swallow eat?
The White-throated Swallow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the White-throated Swallow migrate?
The White-throated Swallow is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the White-throated 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-throated Swallow make?
1 real field recording of the White-throated Swallow — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-throated Swallow's range?
The White-throated Swallow has a mapped global range of about 1.6 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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