Chilean Swallow
Tachycineta leucopyga
The Chilean Swallow (Tachycineta leucopyga) is a uncommon swallow found in 7 countries. The Chilean swallow is a species of bird in the family Hirundinidae.
About the Chilean Swallow
The Chilean swallow is a species of bird in the family Hirundinidae. It breeds in Chile and Patagonia, migrating north as far as Bolivia, Paraguay, and Rio Grande do Sul.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Chilean swallow is about 13 centimetres (5.1 in) in length and weighs 15–20 grams (0.53–0.71 oz). It is glossy blue-black above and white below with a white rump. Its wings and tail are black, with white tips on its inner secondaries and its tertials. Their underwing coverts and auxiliaries are both grey. The Chilean swallow's bill and legs are black. The sexes are alike, and the juveniles are duller and browner. It is similar to the white-rumped swallow, but lacks the white forehead of that species and has bluer upperparts and grey underwing-coverts.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Bolivia.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, May, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in October. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Chilean Swallow?
- The Chilean swallow is about 13 centimetres (5.1 in) in length and weighs 15–20 grams (0.53–0.71 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- Where can you see a Chilean Swallow?
- The Chilean Swallow occurs in 7 countries, including Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.
- What birds look similar to a Chilean Swallow?
- The Chilean Swallow is most easily confused with the Mangrove Swallow, the White-winged Swallow and the White-rumped Swallow.
- Is the Chilean Swallow endangered?
- The Chilean Swallow is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Chilean Swallow for real
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