About the Sri Lanka Swallow
The Sri Lanka swallow is a resident breeder endemic to Sri Lanka. It is closely related to the red-rumped swallow, and was formerly considered a subspecies.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in December · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Mosque SwallowCecropis senegalensisThe mosque swallow is the largest and heaviest species of African swallow, resembling a big red-rumped swallow Cecropis daurica.
Rufous-bellied SwallowCecropis badiaThe rufous-bellied swallow is a species of swallow that breeds on the Malay Peninsula.
Red-breasted SwallowCecropis semirufaThe 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.
Learn the Sri Lanka Swallow for real
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