Greater Striped Swallow (Cecropis cucullata)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Greater Striped Swallow

Cecropis cucullata (Boddaert, 1783)

18–20 cmLength27 gWeight

The greater striped swallow (Cecropis cucullata) is a large swallow that is native to Africa south of the equator.

Busiest months: November · Most records: South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Greater Striped Swallow has been recorded at 166 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 9 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Rietvlei NRSouth Africa609 records
  2. Marievale Bird SanctuarySouth Africa555 records
  3. Avis DamNamibia400 records
More places
  1. De Hoop Nature ReserveSouth Africa350 records
  2. Strandfontein WTPSouth Africa316 records
  3. Wakkerstroom Wetland NR – bridge/causewaySouth Africa278 records
  4. Harold Porter Botanical GardensSouth Africa269 records
  5. Benfontein NRSouth Africa247 records
  6. Walter Sisulu National Botanical GardenSouth Africa245 records
  7. Sani Pass (ZA) – low elevationSouth Africa236 records

Countries and regions with the most records

South AfricaNamibiaLesothoEswatiniBotswanaZimbabweAngolaZambia

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The greater striped swallow (Cecropis cucullata) is a large swallow that is native to Africa south of the equator.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Greater Striped Swallow?

The Greater Striped Swallow is about 18–20 cm long and weighs around 27 g.

Where does the Greater Striped Swallow live?

Its breeding range: Africa: Angola and Namibia to Zimbabwe and south to southern South Africa. It is most often recorded in South Africa, Namibia and Lesotho.

When is the best time to see the Greater Striped Swallow?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Greater Striped Swallow endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Greater Striped Swallow as Least Concern.

What does the Greater Striped Swallow eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Greater Striped Swallow in?

It belongs to the family Swallows, Martins (Hirundinidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Length
18–20 cm
Weight
27 g
Habitat
Grassland
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Feeds in the air
Migration
Migratory
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
122 mm
Tail
95 mm
Bill
11 mm
Tarsus
15 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Africa: Angola and Namibia to Zimbabwe and south to southern South Africa

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Swallows, Martins Hirundinidae
Genus
Cecropis

Other birds in the genus Cecropis

European Red-rumped SwallowEuropean Red-rumped SwallowCecropis rufulaEastern Red-rumped SwallowEastern Red-rumped SwallowCecropis dauricaAfrican Red-rumped SwallowAfrican Red-rumped SwallowCecropis melanocrissusSri Lanka SwallowSri Lanka SwallowCecropis hyperythraRufous-bellied SwallowRufous-bellied SwallowCecropis badiaLesser Striped SwallowLesser Striped SwallowCecropis abyssinicaRed-breasted SwallowRed-breasted SwallowCecropis semirufaMosque SwallowMosque SwallowCecropis senegalensisAfrican River MartinAfrican River MartinPseudochelidon eurystominaWhite-eyed River MartinWhite-eyed River MartinPseudochelidon sirintarae
Greater Striped Swallow

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Kate Braun. ↗

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