Pale-footed swallow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pale-footed swallow |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Orochelidon
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| Species: |
flavipes
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| Distribution map | |
The pale-footed swallow (scientific name: Orochelidon flavipes) is a small, quick bird that belongs to the swallow family, Hirundinidae. You can find these birds in the northern Andes mountains, stretching from Venezuela all the way down to Bolivia. They love to live in warm, wet montane forests, which are forests found in mountainous areas.
These swallows often fly in small groups. Sometimes, you might even see them flying alongside the similar-looking blue-and-white swallow. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the pale-footed swallow as a least-concern species. This means their population is stable and not currently at risk.
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Discovering the Pale-Footed Swallow
This type of swallow is known as "monotypic." This means there aren't any different subspecies or variations of it. It's just one unique kind of bird!
The pale-footed swallow is sometimes called the "cloud-forest swallow." This name makes sense because they are often found living in misty cloud forests high up in the mountains.
What Does the Pale-Footed Swallow Look Like?
This swallow is quite small, usually about 12 cm (4.7 in) long. It weighs around 10.6 g (0.37 oz), which is about the same as a few paper clips!
Its upper body is a dark, shiny blue color. Its wings, tail, and the feathers under its tail are even darker, almost black. The chin area is a bit dusky, and its throat has a warm, cinnamon-buff color. Its chest is white, but it also has a hint of that cinnamon-buff shade. The belly is pure white.
The feathers under its wings, near its armpits, and on its flanks (sides) are blackish-brown. Its lower legs and toes are a pinkish color. The bill is black, and its eyes are dark brown. The tail has a slight notch at the end. Both male and female swallows look very similar. Young swallows also look like the adults, but the feathers under their tails might have white or pale edges.
How to Tell Them Apart
It's easy to confuse the pale-footed swallow with the blue-and-white swallow because they look so much alike. However, there are a few clues to tell them apart:
- The pale-footed swallow has blackish flanks (sides).
- It flies faster than the blue-and-white swallow.
- It is also a little bit smaller.
What Sounds Do They Make?
The pale-footed swallow has a special flight call that sounds like a dzreet. This call is "drier" than the call of the blue-and-white swallow, which helps experts tell them apart. They also make a trilled call that sounds like tre-e-e-ed.
When they sing, it's a series of trills and thin, musical warbles. It's described as a "buzzy" sound, but still very pleasant to hear!
Where Do Pale-Footed Swallows Live?
These swallows are native to the Andes mountains. You can find them in countries like Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. They mostly live on the eastern side of the Andes.
They prefer to stay at certain elevations in the mountains. For example, in Ecuador, they usually live between 2,600 m (8,500 ft) and 3,300 m (10,800 ft) high. In Peru and Bolivia, they are found a bit lower, starting around 2,000 m (6,600 ft) to 2,300 m (7,500 ft) and going up to about 3,500 m (11,500 ft). In Venezuela, their elevation range is smaller, usually between 2,200 m (7,200 ft) and 2,400 m (7,900 ft). Sometimes, if the weather is bad, they might fly to lower altitudes.
Pale-footed swallows mainly live in forests, especially humid (wet) ones. They are considered "resident" birds, meaning they usually stay in the same area all year round and do not migrate far.
Pale-Footed Swallow Behavior
Reproduction and Nests
While we don't know exactly when female pale-footed swallows are ready to lay eggs, we do know that males are usually ready to breed from July to September. It's likely that both the male and female birds take turns sitting on the eggs to keep them warm.
These swallows probably build their nests in burrows, similar to the blue-and-white swallow. They might use mossy holes or even cavities found in roadsides. They prefer to nest in subtropical and tropical montane forests, especially the upper parts of cloud forests. They avoid open areas and like to nest in "elfin forests," which are dense, stunted forests found at high altitudes. They often live just above where blue-and-white swallows are found, in areas with more trees.
What Do They Eat?
The pale-footed swallow is an "aerial insectivore." This means they catch and eat insects while flying in the air! They usually hunt for food over the forest canopy (the top layer of trees) and sometimes fly through it. They also look for insects over nearby clearings.
Their flight is usually very fast, low, and a bit unpredictable. They are known to fly back and forth many times while hunting. These swallows often forage (search for food) in groups of 10 to 15 birds, but sometimes you might see as many as 50 together!
They don't usually perch (sit on branches), but when they do, they choose bare, dead branches of forest trees. They have been seen foraging with other swallows, like the blue-and-white swallow and the brown-bellied swallow.
Conservation Status: Are They Safe?
The IUCN has classified the pale-footed swallow as a least-concern species. This is good news! Here's why:
- Their population seems to be stable, meaning it's not decreasing.
- There are likely more than 10,000 adult birds of this species.
- They live across a very large area. Their breeding range is estimated to be about 2,730,000 km2 (1,050,000 sq mi).
Even though the exact number of birds is unknown, they appear to be fairly common. It's possible that they are sometimes overlooked because they look so much like the blue-and-white swallow.
