White-throated Swallow (Hirundo albigularis)
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White-throated Swallow

Hirundo albigularis Strickland, 1849

14–17 cmLength22 gWeight

The white-throated swallow (Hirundo albigularis) is a small bird in the swallow family.

Busiest months: October–November · Most records: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

White-throated Swallow has been recorded at 176 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 10 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Strandfontein WTPSouth Africa1,588 records
  2. Marievale Bird SanctuarySouth Africa742 records
  3. Rietvlei NRSouth Africa716 records
More places
  1. West Coast NPSouth Africa659 records
  2. West Coast NP – Geelbek hides vicinitySouth Africa518 records
  3. West Coast NP – Abrahamskraal hideSouth Africa467 records
  4. Rondevlei NRSouth Africa420 records
  5. Wakkerstroom Wetland NR – bridge/causewaySouth Africa322 records
  6. Kgomo-KgomoSouth Africa261 records
  7. Rietvlei Wetlands ReserveSouth Africa241 records

Countries and regions with the most records

South AfricaNamibiaBotswanaZambiaZimbabweEswatiniLesothoAngola

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-throated swallow (Hirundo albigularis) is a small bird in the swallow family. It is a common species, found in southern Africa, which has benefited from the increased nesting opportunities presented by the construction of bridges and dams.

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

Questions

How big is the White-throated Swallow?

The White-throated Swallow is about 14–17 cm long and weighs around 22 g.

Where does the White-throated Swallow live?

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

When is the best time to see the White-throated Swallow?

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

Is the White-throated Swallow endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the White-throated Swallow as Least Concern.

What does the White-throated Swallow eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the White-throated Swallow in?

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

At a glance

Length
14–17 cm
Weight
22 g
Habitat
Grassland
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Feeds in the air
Migration
Migratory
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
126 mm
Tail
67 mm
Bill
13 mm
Tarsus
11 mm

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

Range

Africa: Botswana and Zimbabwe to southern South Africa

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Swallows, Martins Hirundinidae
Genus
Hirundo

Other birds in the genus Hirundo

Blue SwallowBlue SwallowHirundo atrocaeruleaBlack-and-rufous SwallowBlack-and-rufous SwallowHirundo nigrorufaPearl-breasted SwallowPearl-breasted SwallowHirundo dimidiataHill SwallowHill SwallowHirundo domicolaPacific SwallowPacific SwallowHirundo javanicaTahiti SwallowTahiti SwallowHirundo tahiticaPied-winged SwallowPied-winged SwallowHirundo leucosomaWhite-tailed SwallowWhite-tailed SwallowHirundo megaensisWelcome SwallowWelcome SwallowHirundo neoxenaBarn SwallowBarn SwallowHirundo rusticaRed-chested SwallowRed-chested SwallowHirundo lucidaEthiopian SwallowEthiopian SwallowHirundo aethiopica
White-throated Swallow

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

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