Lesser Striped Swallow (Cecropis abyssinica)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Lesser Striped Swallow

Cecropis abyssinica (Guérin-Méneville, 1843)

15–19 cmLength14 gWeight

The lesser striped swallow (Cecropis abyssinica) is a large swallow.

Busiest months: November · Most records: South Africa, Kenya, Uganda

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: November · Most records: South Africa, Kenya, Uganda

Lesser Striped Swallow has been recorded at 473 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 33 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Nairobi NPKenya1,022 records
  2. Tarangire NPTanzania627 records
  3. Mkhuze GRSouth Africa544 records
More places
  1. Amboseli NPKenya479 records
  2. Macaneta – Wetland, dune forests and coastMozambique472 records
  3. Lake Mburo NPUganda471 records
  4. Kruger NP – Skukuza CampSouth Africa406 records
  5. Kruger NP – Lower Sabie Rest CampSouth Africa370 records
  6. Serengeti NPTanzania313 records
  7. Maasai Mara NR – Mara TriangleKenya303 records

Countries and regions with the most records

South AfricaKenyaUgandaTanzaniaBotswanaMozambiqueGhanaRwanda

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 lesser striped swallow (Cecropis abyssinica) is a large swallow. It breeds in Sub-Saharan Africa from Sierra Leone and southern Sudan south into eastern South Africa. It is partially migratory with South African birds wintering further north.

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

Questions

How big is the Lesser Striped Swallow?

The Lesser Striped Swallow is about 15–19 cm long and weighs around 14 g.

Where does the Lesser Striped Swallow live?

Its breeding range: Africa: widespread. It is most often recorded in South Africa, Kenya and Uganda.

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

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

Is the Lesser Striped Swallow endangered?

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

What does the Lesser Striped Swallow eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Lesser Striped Swallow in?

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

At a glance

Length
15–19 cm
Weight
14 g
Habitat
Grassland
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Feeds in the air
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
108 mm
Tail
92 mm
Bill
11 mm
Tarsus
12 mm

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

Range

Africa: widespread

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Swallows, Martins Hirundinidae
Genus
Cecropis

Other birds in the genus Cecropis

Greater Striped SwallowGreater Striped SwallowCecropis cucullataEuropean 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 badiaRed-breasted SwallowRed-breasted SwallowCecropis semirufaMosque SwallowMosque SwallowCecropis senegalensisAfrican River MartinAfrican River MartinPseudochelidon eurystominaWhite-eyed River MartinWhite-eyed River MartinPseudochelidon sirintarae
Lesser Striped Swallow

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