Greater Striped Swallow

Cecropis cucullata

Grassland. Top of head orange; rump pale orange; rest of upperparts metallic blue; below whitish, lightly streaked.

Swallows

Not Endemic

Description

Common summer resident. Identified by chestnut cap, pale chestnut rump and lightly streaked underparts that appear almost white in flight; cf. [Lesser Striped Swallow]. The call, uttered in flight, is a soft ‘chissik’; song is a pleasant trilling and warbling. Occurs in pairs when breeding; otherwise small flocks are found over open terrain, montane grassland, near culverts, rocky koppies and human habitation. Flies with much gliding and perches frequently on trees and wires.

Quick Facts

Bird Family

Small, long-winged, aerial-feeding birds. Swallows have mostly glossy-blue upperparts (some with rufous caps) and whitish, rufous or streaked underparts; the blackish saw-wing swallows are an exception. Saw-wings have rough, saw-like leading edges to their primary feathers (not apparent in the field). In all species, immatures are duller than adults. They build nests with mud pellets or burrow tunnels in banks or cliffs; they drink and bathe in flight by skimming the surface of still water, and perch to rest. For comparison, see swifts.