Lesser striped swallow facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lesser striped swallow
In South Africa
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Cecropis
Species:	abyssinica
approximate range
Synonyms
Hirundo abyssinica

The lesser striped swallow (its scientific name is Cecropis abyssinica) is a type of large swallow. These birds live and have their babies in many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. You can find them from countries like Sierra Leone and Sudan all the way down to eastern South Africa.

Some lesser striped swallows travel long distances. Birds from South Africa fly north for the winter. Swallows in West Africa also move away from the northern areas when the dry season comes.

Where Lesser Striped Swallows Live

Lesser striped swallows like to live in places with lots of trees. They mostly prefer lower areas. They enjoy habitats that are not too open. In grassy mountain areas, you will usually find the greater striped swallow instead. These swallows are quite common. You can often spot them near where people live.

What Does the Lesser Striped Swallow Look Like?

A lesser striped swallow flying in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

The lesser striped swallow is about 15 to 10 centimeters long. Its upper parts are a dark blue color. It has a red patch on its rump, which is the lower part of its back. Its head, including the crown and neck, is a reddish-brown color.

The underside of the bird is white with dark stripes. Its upper wings and flight feathers are blackish-brown. The feathers under its wings are a tawny color. The tail is blackish and has very long outer feathers. These long feathers are a bit longer in males than in females. Young swallows are duller and browner. They also have shorter outer tail feathers. There are five or six different types of lesser striped swallows. They mostly differ in how much streaking they have on their undersides.

The lesser striped swallow has darker and heavier stripes on its belly. It also has a brighter red rump. Its head color is more vibrant than the larger greater striped swallow.

Lesser Striped Swallow Behavior

This bird mainly eats flying insects. However, it has also been seen eating small fruits. The way it flies is a bit jerky and unpredictable. Its call sounds like a nasal zeh zeh zeh zeh zeh.

Reproduction and Nesting

The lesser striped swallow builds a nest shaped like a bowl. It uses mud to make the nest. The nest has a tube-like entrance on its underside. The inside of the nest is soft. These birds may use the same nest again in future years.

They often build their nests in caves. They might also build them under a rock overhang or on a tree branch. These swallows have learned to use human structures. They will build nests under bridges, in culverts, and on buildings. If they have a choice, they will pick a high place for their nest.

The eggs are shiny white. Sometimes they have a few brown spots. A typical clutch has three eggs. Only the female bird sits on the eggs to keep them warm. This takes about 14 to 16 days until they hatch. After the chicks hatch, both parents feed them. The young birds are ready to fly after another 17 to 19 days. Even after their first flight, the young birds will return to the nest to sleep for a few days.

Gallery

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  You can tell this bird by its heavy stripes and reddish-brown ear patches.
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  An adult bird adding soft material to its nest.
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  A swallow finishing its mud nest.
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  Shiny white eggs inside the nest.