The blue swallow (Hirundo atrocaerulea ) is a small bird within the swallow family which is in the order Passeriformes. Swallows are somewhat similar in habits and appearance to other aerial insectivores, such as the martins (also a passerine) and the swifts (order Apodiformes). It breeds in the Afromontane (from South Africa to Tanzania), wintering north of Lake Victoria.
This bird breeds in montane grassland, preferring high rainfall, undulating areas. In winter it prefers open grassland, with bushes and trees. The nest is usually attached to the roof or side of a hole in the ground.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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InsectivoresAn insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of e...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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GlidingGliding flight is heavier-than-air flight without the use of thrust and is employed by gliding animals. Birds in particular use gliding flight to m...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
Oviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
A burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
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MigratingAnimal migration is the relatively long-distance movement of individual animals, usually on a seasonal basis. It is the most common form of migrati...
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starts withBlue swallows are small songbirds found in Africa. The adult birds have a highly lustrous dark metallic steel-blue appearance with long tail streamers, which are particularly noticeable in males. White feathers are visible on the rump and flanks when the birds are preening and especially during courtship. In poor light, Blue swallows appear almost black and therefore can be mistaken for Black saw-wing swallows which occur throughout their breeding range. Young Blue swallows start life a brownish-grey, acquiring their blue color as they mature.
Blue swallows breed from South Africa to Tanzania and winter north of Lake Victoria. Their breeding habitat includes montane grassland and in winter these birds prefer savanna and open grasslands with bushes and trees near wetlands.
Blue swallows are excellent flyers and use these skills to feed and attract mates. They are diurnal and social on the feeding grounds. Generally, swallows forage on the wing, but may on occasion snap prey off branches or on the ground. Their flight may be fast and involve a rapid succession of turns and banks when actively chasing fast-moving prey; less agile prey may be caught with a slower, more leisurely flight that includes flying in circles and bursts of flapping mixed with gliding. Swallows are able to produce many different calls or songs, which are used to express excitement, to communicate with others of the same species, during courtship, or as an alarm when a predator is in the area. The songs of males are related to the body condition of the bird and are presumably used by females to judge the physical condition and suitability for mating of males. Begging calls are used by the young when soliciting food from their parents. The typical song of swallows is a simple, sometimes musical twittering.
Blue swallows are carnivores (insectivores). They feed on small, soft-bodied flies and other arthropods.
The mating system of Blue swallows is not well understood although these birds are known to exhibit co-operative breeding. They arrive on the breeding grounds at the end of September and construct cup-shaped nests from mud and grass on the inside of sinkhole cavities, aardvark burrows, and old mine shafts. The nests are lined with fine grass, animal hair, and white feathers. Normally, 3 white eggs are laid. They are incubated by the female for 14 days, and the chicks are fed for approximately 22 days until they fledge. The chicks hatch naked and with closed eyes. Once fledged, they spend the next couple of days around the nest site before disappearing. Most Blue swallows will rear a second brood before returning to the over-wintering grounds in April.
Blue swallows are threatened by the destruction of their habitat at both their breeding and wintering grounds. In some locations, they are often trapped for food and are vulnerable to changes in climate, severe weather, and pollution.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total Blue swallow population size is around 1,000-2,499 mature individuals which equate to 1,500-4,000 individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...