Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Pied-winged Swallow
Hirundo leucosoma
Pied-winged Swallow (Hirundo leucosoma) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Pied-winged Swallow (Hirundo leucosoma) is a member of the Hirundinidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 17.6 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 leucosoma
Quick facts
- Weight
- 17.6 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Hirundinidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Pied-winged Swallow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Pied-winged Swallow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Pied-winged Swallow (Hirundo leucosoma) is a member of the Hirundinidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Senegal and Gambia to Nigeria.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 17.6 g, with a wing length of about 9.8 cm and a tail of around 5.1 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 1.4 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Pied-winged Swallow?
The Pied-winged Swallow is a small bird that weighs around 17.6 g.
Where does the Pied-winged Swallow live?
The Pied-winged Swallow is found across Africa with a range covering AF Senegal and Gambia to Nigeria, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Pied-winged Swallow belong to?
The Pied-winged Swallow (Hirundo leucosoma) belongs to the Hirundinidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Pied-winged Swallow eat?
The Pied-winged Swallow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Pied-winged Swallow migrate?
The Pied-winged Swallow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Pied-winged 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 Pied-winged Swallow's range?
The Pied-winged Swallow has a mapped global range of about 1.4 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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