Pearl-breasted Swallow

Hirundo dimidiata

Open woodland; above metallic blue; below white; forked tail.

Swallows

Not Endemic

Description

Uncommon to fairly common resident and winter visitor. Identified by entirely blue upper parts (including head and rump), entirely white underparts and lack of tail-shafts. The call is a nasal, twittering ‘chip-cheree- chip-chip’. Pairs frequent woodland and human settlements in summer; small flocks often found in vleis in winter. Mostly occurs in the drier regions. Sparsely distributed throughout its range and present only in summer in many regions, especially the south.

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.