South African cliff swallow

Species of bird

South African cliff swallow
In flight, at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, Gauteng, South Africa
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Hirundinidae
Genus: Petrochelidon
Species:
P. spilodera
Binomial name
Petrochelidon spilodera
(Sundevall, 1850)
Synonyms
  • Hirundo spilodera

The South African cliff swallow (Petrochelidon spilodera), also known as the South African swallow, is a species of bird in the family Hirundinidae native southern Africa. It winters to the lower Congo Basin.

Nests are commonly built from mud under artificial structures such as huts and bridges.[2] It is well known for its supposed ability to carry coconuts, although this claim has little to no credibility outside of the Monty Python fictional universe.[3]

Gallery

  • Nests of the South African swallow under a highway bridge
    Nests of the South African swallow under a highway bridge
  • Petrochelidon spilodera - MHNT
    Petrochelidon spilodera - MHNT

References

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2017). "Petrochelidon spilodera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22712412A118750418. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22712412A118750418.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Hirundo spilodera (South African cliff-swallow)". Biodiversity Explorer. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
  3. ^ "Unladen Swallows". Interesting Engineering. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  • BirdLife International 2004. Hirundo spilodera. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 26 July 2007.

External links

  • South African Cliff Swallow - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds.
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Swallows (family: Hirundinidae)
River martins (subfamily: Pseudochelidoninae · genus: Pseudochelidon)
Genus
Pseudochelidon
All other swallows and martins (subfamily: Hirundininae)
Genus
Psalidoprocne
(saw-wings)
Pseudhirundo
Cheramoeca
Phedina
Phedinopsis
Riparia
(sand martins)
Neophedina
Tachycineta
(tree swallows)
Progne
Orochelidon
Atticora
Pygochelidon
Stelgidopteryx
Alopochelidon
Hirundo
(barn swallows)
Ptyonoprogne
(crag martins)
Delichon
(house martins)
Cecropis
Petrochelidon
Cheramoeca
Taxon identifiers
Petrochelidon spilodera


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