Photo: Hector Bottai / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-collared Swallow
Pygochelidon melanoleuca
Black-collared Swallow (Pygochelidon melanoleuca) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-collared Swallow (Pygochelidon melanoleuca) is a member of the Hirundinidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 10.8 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 Pygochelidon
- Species melanoleuca
Where it lives
Eastern Colombia through central Venezuela, the Guianas and northern Brazil, southeastern Amazonia and northeastern Argentina
Quick facts
- Weight
- 10.8 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 Black-collared 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 Black-collared Swallow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-collared Swallow (Pygochelidon melanoleuca) is a species of bird in the Hirundinidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA e Colombia through c Venezuela, the Guianas and n Brazil, se Amazonia and ne Argentina.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 10.8 g, with a wing length of about 9.2 cm and a tail of around 6.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-collared Swallow?
The Black-collared Swallow is a very small bird that weighs around 10.8 g.
Where does the Black-collared Swallow live?
The Black-collared Swallow is found across South America with a range covering SA e Colombia through c Venezuela, the Guianas and n Brazil, se Amazonia and ne Argentina, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Black-collared Swallow belong to?
The Black-collared Swallow (Pygochelidon melanoleuca) belongs to the Hirundinidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-collared Swallow eat?
The Black-collared Swallow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black-collared Swallow migrate?
The Black-collared Swallow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-collared 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 Black-collared Swallow make?
1 real field recording of the Black-collared 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 Black-collared Swallow's range?
The Black-collared Swallow has a mapped global range of about 2.1 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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