Photo: Richard Bowdler Sharpe / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-and-rufous Swallow
Hirundo nigrorufa
Black-and-rufous Swallow (Hirundo nigrorufa) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Black-and-rufous Swallow (Hirundo nigrorufa) is a member of the Hirundinidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 14.2 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 nigrorufa
Quick facts
- Weight
- 14.2 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Hirundinidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-and-rufous 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 Black-and-rufous Swallow is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Black-and-rufous Swallow (Hirundo nigrorufa) is a species of bird in the Hirundinidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF wc Angola through s DRCongo to e Zambia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 14.2 g, with a wing length of about 10.7 cm and a tail of around 6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 581,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-and-rufous Swallow?
The Black-and-rufous Swallow is a very small bird that weighs around 14.2 g.
Where does the Black-and-rufous Swallow live?
The Black-and-rufous Swallow is found across Africa with a range covering AF wc Angola through s DRCongo to e Zambia, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Black-and-rufous Swallow belong to?
The Black-and-rufous Swallow (Hirundo nigrorufa) belongs to the Hirundinidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-and-rufous Swallow eat?
The Black-and-rufous Swallow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black-and-rufous Swallow migrate?
The Black-and-rufous Swallow is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Black-and-rufous 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 Black-and-rufous Swallow's range?
The Black-and-rufous Swallow has a mapped global range of about 581,000 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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