White-backed Swallow
Cheramoeca leucosterna (Gould, 1841)
14 gWeight
The white-backed swallow (Cheramoeca leucosterna) is a member of the swallow family Hirundinidae and is endemic to Australia.
Busiest months: August and October · Most records: Australia
Where and when it's recorded
Busiest months: August and October · Most records: Australia
White-backed Swallow has been recorded at 27 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 1 country or region.
Records by month Southern Hemisphere
Where it's recorded most
- Alice Springs Sewage PondsAustralia383 records
- Bowra Wildlife SanctuaryAustralia100 records
- Hattah-Kulkyne National ParkAustralia75 records
More places
- Mount Korong Nature Conservation ReserveAustralia60 records
- Gemmill Swamp Wildlife ReserveAustralia51 records
- Capertee ValleyAustralia42 records
- Terrick Terrick National ParkAustralia26 records
- Bendigo Sewage PondsAustralia17 records
- Lake Cargelligo Wastewater Treatment PlantAustralia14 records
- Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park – ChilternAustralia13 records
Countries and regions with the most records
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 white-backed swallow (Cheramoeca leucosterna) is a member of the swallow family Hirundinidae and is endemic to Australia. It is the only species placed in the genus Cheramoeca. As with all swallows, it is characterised by adaptation to aerial feeding.
Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia
Questions
How big is the White-backed Swallow?
The White-backed Swallow weighs around 14 g.
Where does the White-backed Swallow live?
Its breeding range: Australasia: Australia (except northern, southeastern, Tasmania). It is most often recorded in Australia.
When is the best time to see the White-backed Swallow?
At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in August and October (Southern Hemisphere).
Is the White-backed Swallow endangered?
The IUCN Red List classifies the White-backed Swallow as Least Concern.
What does the White-backed Swallow eat?
Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.
What family is the White-backed Swallow in?
It belongs to the family Swallows, Martins (Hirundinidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).
At a glance
- Weight
- 14 g
- Habitat
- Rivers & streams
- Diet
- Insects & other invertebrates
- Lifestyle
- Feeds in the air
- Migration
- Resident (barely migrates)
- Conservation
- Least Concern
More measurements
- Wing
- 102 mm
- Tail
- 73 mm
- Bill
- 9 mm
- Tarsus
- 14 mm
Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.
Range
Australasia: Australia (except northern, southeastern, Tasmania)
Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2
Classification
- Order
- Passerines Passeriformes
- Family
- Swallows, Martins Hirundinidae
- Genus
- Cheramoeca
More from the family Swallows, Martins
African River MartinPseudochelidon eurystomina
White-eyed River MartinPseudochelidon sirintarae
Square-tailed Saw-wingPsalidoprocne nitens
White-headed Saw-wingPsalidoprocne albiceps
Mountain Saw-wingPsalidoprocne fuliginosa
Black Saw-wingPsalidoprocne pristoptera
Fanti Saw-wingPsalidoprocne obscura
Grey-rumped SwallowPseudhirundo griseopyga
Mascarene MartinPhedina borbonica
Banded MartinNeophedina cincta
Download illustration
Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Darcy Whittaker. ↗
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