Mosque Swallow vs Red-breasted Swallow

Mosque Swallow

Cecropis senegalensis

Small45 gGrassland

The mosque swallow is the largest and heaviest species of African swallow, resembling a big red-rumped swallow Cecropis daurica. The crown, upperparts, and tail are glossy dark blue, and the lores and sides of the head are whitish forming a collar. The rump is dark rufous, while the throat and upper breast are pale rufous, shading to dark rufous on the remainder of the underparts. Very pale underwing coverts contrast with the dark flight feathers. Females are similar to males but have shorter tail streamers. Juveniles are browner. Mosque swallows are 21–23 cm (8.3–9.1 in) in length.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: danielskatz · CC BY 4.0

Red-breasted Swallow

Cecropis semirufa

Small30 gGrassland

The red-breasted swallow is similar to the mosque swallow but is slightly smaller and has longer tail streamers, both species having a blue crown and mantle contrasting with a rufous rump and underparts, In the red-breasted swallow the dark crown extends below the eye and there is no white on the underwing. The juvenile is similar to the red-rumped swallow but has blue on the side of the head rather than dull red.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Andrew Deacon · CC0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Mosque Swallow and Red-breasted Swallow.