Bird Guide

Sri Lanka Swallow vs Tawny-headed Swallow

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
Tawny-headed Swallow (Alopochelidon fucata)

Tawny-headed Swallow

Alopochelidon fucata

Tiny14 gGrassland

This swallow is relatively small, usually measuring 12 cm (4.7 in) and weighing 13–15 g (0.46–0.53 oz). It has a black bill that usually measures 6.6–8.1 mm (0.26–0.32 in). It has a mostly brownish-black crown, with tawny-rufous edges. It also has a tawny-rufous coloured forehead, eyebrow, and hindcrown, which transition into its cinnamon-buff ear coverts, sides of the head, throat, and breast. It has dark brown lores and brown irides. The rest of the upperparts are gray-brown, with a paler rump.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Julia Ariadna · CC0

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