Bird Guide

Mosque Swallow vs Sri Lanka Swallow

Mosque Swallow (Cecropis senegalensis)

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
Sri Lanka Swallow (Cecropis hyperythra)

Sri Lanka Swallow

Cecropis hyperythra

Small22 gGrassland

It is a large swallow with a tail which forks deeply, and the combination of deep rufous underside and navy blue rump without any marks is a unique feature of this species. Its rufous underside can be used to tell it apart from the red-rumped swallow. It is a passerine, which means it has three toes pointing forward and one pointing backward, allowing it to perch.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Mickey Wu · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Mosque Swallow and Sri Lanka Swallow.