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WoodlandCup nestSmall · 18 g
ID tip
The pied-winged swallow is about 12 cm (4.7 in) long with glossy steel-blue wings and head. Most of the underside of the bird is white, with additional white patches found on special wing feathers. The tail is also steel-blue, but has green reflections. Females and juveniles typically have shorter tails. Juveniles are also typified by a browner head and generally duller colour overall. The outer tail feathers have white inner edges and an oval white spot. The eyes are brown, while beak and feet are both black. It is the only West African swallow with a wing patch. Wings average 9.9 cm (3.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Pied-winged Swallow
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 7 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is November, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Pied-winged Swallow
The map shades 11 countries with regular records, and 1 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Côte d’Ivoire.
About the Pied-winged Swallow
The pied-winged swallow is a species of bird in the family Hirundinidae. It has distinctive steel-blue upperparts with white wing patches. It is native to parts of West Africa.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Blue SwallowHirundo atrocaeruleaThis species is a small swallow at 18–25 centimetres (7.1–9.8 in).
White-tailed SwallowHirundo megaensisThe white-tailed swallow is a small bird that measures about 13 cm (5.1 in) in length.
White-bibbed SwallowHirundo nigritaThe white-bibbed swallow, also known as the white-throated blue swallow, is a species of bird in the family Hirundinidae.
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