Photo: Dominic Sherony / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-capped Swallow
Atticora pileata
Black-capped Swallow (Atticora pileata) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-capped Swallow (Atticora pileata) is a member of the Hirundinidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 12.2 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 Atticora
- Species pileata
Quick facts
- Weight
- 12.2 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Hirundinidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-capped Swallow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Black-capped Swallow is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Black-capped Swallow (Atticora pileata) is a species of bird in the Hirundinidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA s Mexico to w El Salvador.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12.2 g, with a wing length of about 9.3 cm and a tail of around 5.7 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 75,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-capped Swallow?
The Black-capped Swallow is a very small bird that weighs around 12.2 g.
Where does the Black-capped Swallow live?
The Black-capped Swallow is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA s Mexico to w El Salvador, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black-capped Swallow belong to?
The Black-capped Swallow (Atticora pileata) belongs to the Hirundinidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-capped Swallow eat?
The Black-capped Swallow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black-capped Swallow migrate?
The Black-capped Swallow is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Black-capped 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-capped Swallow's range?
The Black-capped Swallow has a mapped global range of about 75,000 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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Guides for this bird
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