White-backed Swallow
Cheramoeca leucosterna
White-backed Swallow (Cheramoeca leucosterna) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 7 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-backed Swallow (Cheramoeca leucosterna) is a member of the Hirundinidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 14.1 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 Cheramoeca
- Species leucosterna
Quick facts
- Weight
- 14.1 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 White-backed 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 White-backed Swallow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-backed Swallow (Cheramoeca leucosterna) is a species of bird in the Hirundinidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Australia (except n, se, Tasmania).
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 14.1 g, with a wing length of about 10.2 cm and a tail of around 7.3 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 5.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-backed Swallow?
The White-backed Swallow is a very small bird that weighs around 14.1 g.
Where does the White-backed Swallow live?
The White-backed Swallow is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Australia (except n, se, Tasmania), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the White-backed Swallow belong to?
The White-backed Swallow (Cheramoeca leucosterna) belongs to the Hirundinidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the White-backed Swallow eat?
The White-backed Swallow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the White-backed Swallow migrate?
The White-backed Swallow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-backed 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 White-backed Swallow make?
1 real field recording of the White-backed 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 White-backed Swallow's range?
The White-backed Swallow has a mapped global range of about 5.2 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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Guides for this bird
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