Photo: Richard Bowdler Sharpe / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Blue Swallow
Hirundo atrocaerulea
Blue Swallow (Hirundo atrocaerulea) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Blue Swallow (Hirundo atrocaerulea) is a member of the Hirundinidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 13.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Hirundinidae Swallows, Martins
- Genus Hirundo
- Species atrocaerulea
Where it lives
Patchily from southeastern DR Congo and central Tanzania to eastern South Africa
Quick facts
- Weight
- 13.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Hirundinidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Blue 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 Blue Swallow is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Blue Swallow (Hirundo atrocaerulea) is a species of bird in the Hirundinidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF patchily from se DR Congo and c Tanzania to e South Africa.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13.8 g, with a wing length of about 11.2 cm and a tail of around 11.5 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 141,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Blue Swallow?
The Blue Swallow is a very small bird that weighs around 13.8 g.
Where does the Blue Swallow live?
The Blue Swallow is found across Africa with a range covering AF patchily from se DR Congo and c Tanzania to e South Africa, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Blue Swallow belong to?
The Blue Swallow (Hirundo atrocaerulea) belongs to the Hirundinidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Blue Swallow eat?
The Blue Swallow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Blue Swallow migrate?
The Blue Swallow is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Blue Swallow endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Blue Swallow make?
1 real field recording of the Blue Swallow — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Blue Swallow's range?
The Blue Swallow has a mapped global range of about 141,000 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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