Photo: Ron Knight from Seaford, East Sussex, United Kingdom / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Preuss’s Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon preussi
Preuss's Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon preussi) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Preuss’s Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon preussi) is a member of the Hirundinidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 13.3 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 Petrochelidon
- Species preussi
Where it lives
Guinea Bissau, Guinea and Sierra Leone to northeastern Nigeria, Cameroon and Central African Republic; northeastern DRCongo
Quick facts
- Weight
- 13.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Hirundinidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Preuss’s Cliff 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 Preuss’s Cliff Swallow is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Preuss’s Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon preussi) belongs to the Hirundinidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Guinea Bissau, Guinea and Sierra Leone to ne Nigeria, Cameroon and Central African Republic; ne DRCongo.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13.3 g, with a wing length of about 9.6 cm and a tail of around 5.3 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 2.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Preuss’s Cliff Swallow?
The Preuss’s Cliff Swallow is a very small bird that weighs around 13.3 g.
Where does the Preuss’s Cliff Swallow live?
The Preuss’s Cliff Swallow is found across Africa with a range covering AF Guinea Bissau, Guinea and Sierra Leone to ne Nigeria, Cameroon and Central African Republic; ne DRCongo, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Preuss’s Cliff Swallow belong to?
The Preuss’s Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon preussi) belongs to the Hirundinidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Preuss’s Cliff Swallow eat?
The Preuss’s Cliff Swallow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Preuss’s Cliff Swallow migrate?
The Preuss’s Cliff Swallow is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Preuss’s Cliff 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 Preuss’s Cliff Swallow make?
1 real field recording of the Preuss’s Cliff Swallow — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Preuss’s Cliff Swallow's range?
The Preuss’s Cliff Swallow has a mapped global range of about 2.2 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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