









About the Tawny-headed Swallow
The tawny-headed swallow is a species of bird in the family Hirundinidae. It is the only species placed in the genus Alopochelidon. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Falkland Islands, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela, where its natural habitats are dry savanna and subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in October · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Sri Lanka SwallowCecropis hyperythraIt 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.
White-backed SwallowCheramoeca leucosternaAn adult white-backed swallow averages 15 cm long, similar in size to other swallows found in Australia.
Learn the Tawny-headed Swallow for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.