Lesser-striped swallow
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Kleinstreepswael  Lesser-striped swallow Hirundo abyssinica Ithala Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal |
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Description - The forehead, crown, nape, hind neck, sides of neck, and the ear coverts are chestnut-rufous. Most of the back is metallic blue-black. The tail is deeply forked. The underparts are white, with heavy sepia streaking. The bill is black, the eyes are brown.
Distribution - Africa south of the Sahel. In South Africa particularly in the northern areas and in the east south through lowland KwaZulu-Natal to coastal East Cape.
Habitat - Open grassy areas, open savanna, forest edges and clearings, as well as sparse woodland, but also over water, mangroves, and gallery forest.
Biological - The Lesser-Striped Swallow is an intra-African breeding migrant. It is found singly, in pairs or in family groups. You will see it perching on bare trees, wires, nails protruding from walls and on roofs. It is a highly vocal bird, calling while perched or in flight. When on the ground it has a wobbly gait, rolling the body from side to side. Length 15-19 cm, weight 17 g.
Diet - Forages over woodland and grassland, taking insects disturbed by large grazing mammals. Most of the food is taken in flight, and one can see the bird hovering to pluck caterpillars from crops.
Breeding - The Lesser-Striped Swallow is a monogamous, solitary nester. The nest is built by both sexes in 2-3 weeks, occasionally in up to 7 weeks. An entrance tunnel leads to a bowl made of mud pellets, and lined with grass and feathers. The same site is used year after year. Laying dates of the Hirundo abyssinica unitatis mainly October-January, of the Hirundo abyssinica ampliformis year-round. There at least 3 broods per season, with 2-4, usually 3 eggs. The incubation period is 2-3 weeks. The nestlings are looked after and fed by both adults for a period of 17-18 days.
Voice - According to John Voelker Bird Book Fund (see weblinks): "Main song comprises discrete, slow, descending, tinny, nasal notes, sometimes ascending at end, chip-chip-chwip, kreek, kree-kree, kreep, chwip, kreee ; or trip, trip, trreep, trreep, treep, treep."
Other names - D Kleine Streifenschwalbe - F Hirondelle striée F - FI Viirupääsky - IT Rondine striata minore - NL Savanna-zwaluw - Setswana Peolwane
Weblinks
John Voelcker Bird Book Fund
Books
Ian Sinclair - A photographic guide to birds of Southern Africa. Struik Publ. ISBN 1-86872-553-7
Ian Sinclair et al. - Sasol birds of Southern Africa. Struik Publ. ISBN 1-86872-033-0
Kenneth Newman - Newman se voëls van Suider-Afrika. SAPPI. ISBN 1-868-12-758-3