White-rumped Swallow
Tachycineta leucorrhoa
The White-rumped Swallow (Tachycineta leucorrhoa) is a uncommon swallow found in 8 countries, weighing about 15 g. The white-rumped swallow is a species of bird in the family Hirundinidae.
About the White-rumped Swallow
The white-rumped swallow is a species of bird in the family Hirundinidae. First described and given its binomial name by French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot in 1817, it was for many years considered a subspecies of the Chilean swallow. The species is monotypic with no known population variations. It has a white supraloral streak, or streak above its lores, which can be used to differentiate it from the Chilean swallow. The lores, ear coverts, tail, and wings are black, with white tips on the inner secondaries, tertials, and greater coverts of the wings. The rest of the upperparts are a glossy blue. Its underparts and underwing-coverts are white, in addition to the rump, as the name…
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The white-rumped swallow measures 13 centimetres (5.1 in) in length and weighs 17–21 grams (0.60–0.74 oz). It has an average wingspan of 115.7 millimetres (4.56 in). It has a white supraloral streak, a white streak above its eye, and black lores and ear coverts. The lores and ear-coverts have a blue-green gloss. It has black wings, with white tips on its inner secondaries, tertials, and greater wing-coverts. The white tips erode with age. The tail is black and has a shallow fork. The white-rumped swallow also has, as the name implies, a white rump.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in October. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a White-rumped Swallow?
- The white-rumped swallow measures 13 centimetres (5.1 in) in length and weighs 17–21 grams (0.60–0.74 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a White-rumped Swallow?
- The White-rumped Swallow is a small sized bird weighing about 15 g.
- Where can you see a White-rumped Swallow?
- The White-rumped Swallow occurs in 8 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia.
- What birds look similar to a White-rumped Swallow?
- The White-rumped Swallow is most easily confused with the White-winged Swallow, the Bahama Swallow and the Golden Swallow.
- Is the White-rumped Swallow endangered?
- The White-rumped Swallow is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the White-rumped Swallow for real
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