Wire-tailed Swallow
A species of Typical swallows Scientific name : Hirundo smithii Genus : Typical swallows
Wire-tailed Swallow, A species of Typical swallows
Botanical name: Hirundo smithii
Genus: Typical swallows
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Francesco Veronesi , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Description
The wire-tailed swallow is a small swallow, measuring 18 cm (7.1 in) in length. It has bright blue upperparts, bright white underparts and a chestnut cap. Immature birds lack tail wires, and have dull brown (rather than chestnut) caps. The species is named for the very long filamentous outermost tail feathers, which trail behind like two wires. The sexes are similar in appearance, but the female has shorter "wires". Juveniles have a brown crown, back and tail. The Asian form, H. s. filifera, is larger and longer-tailed than the abundant African H. s. smithii.
Size
21 cm
Colors
Brown
Black
White
Blue
Life Expectancy
9 years
Feeding Habits
Wire-tailed Swallow primarily feed on flying insects, especially focusing on flies. They catch their prey mid-air with adept flight maneuvers, showcasing unique aerial hunting skills.
Habitat
The wire-tailed Swallow predominantly resides in open terrains close to water bodies and human settlements. Its habitat encompasses grasslands, savannas, open woodlands, and cultivated areas, often near lakes, rivers, canals, and rice paddies. It is generally found at low to middle altitudes, typically below 2000 meters, but it can occur up to approximately 2700 meters. This bird commonly builds its nests on vertical surfaces, ranging from cliff ledges to man-made structures such as buildings and bridges. Roosting usually takes place in reed beds and around tamarisk shrubs.
Dite type
Insectivorous
General Info
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Photo By Francesco Veronesi , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Swallows Genus
Typical swallows Species
Wire-tailed Swallow