Pied-winged swallow facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pied-winged swallow
In Gambia
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Hirundinidae
Genus:	Hirundo
Species:	H. leucosoma
Binomial name
Hirundo leucosoma Swainson, 1837
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The pied-winged swallow (Hirundo leucosoma) is a cool type of bird that belongs to the swallow family, called Hirundinidae. This bird has shiny steel-blue feathers on its back and head, with special white patches on its wings. You can find these swallows living in parts of West Africa.

About the Pied-winged Swallow's Name

This section talks about how scientists name and group animals. The pied-winged swallow was first described by an English bird expert named William Swainson in 1837. He gave it its scientific name, Hirundo leucosoma. The name leucosoma comes from two old Ancient Greek words. Leukos means "white," and sōma means "body." This bird is the only type of its species, meaning it's "monotypic." It's also closely related to the pearl-breasted swallow.

What Does the Pied-winged Swallow Look Like?

The pied-winged swallow is about 12 centimeters (about 4.7 inches) long. It has glossy, shiny steel-blue wings and a steel-blue head. Most of its belly and underside are white. It also has extra white patches on some special wing feathers. The tail is also steel-blue, and it can sometimes look a bit green in the light. Female swallows and young birds usually have shorter tails. Young birds also have a browner head and look a bit duller overall. The outer tail feathers have white edges on the inside and a small white spot shaped like an oval. This bird has brown eyes, and both its beak and feet are black. It's the only swallow in West Africa that has a white patch on its wings. Its wings are usually about 9.9 centimeters (3.9 inches) long.

What Sounds Do They Make?

The pied-winged swallow makes a short sound like "chut." However, these birds are not very noisy in general. They use the "chut" sound to stay in touch with each other. They usually only make sounds when they are sitting still.

Where Do Pied-winged Swallows Live?

Wing pattern in flight

You can find this swallow in many countries in West Africa. These include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. They live in different kinds of places. These include savannas with trees, open areas in forests, and near rivers. These swallows are not shy around people. They will often live near humans and even in towns. Buildings and other places where people live are common spots for them to build nests. This might even be helping their population grow!

Do They Travel?

Pied-winged swallows are partial migrants. This means they travel some distances but not always far. They travel as far as Ghana and Northern Nigeria during the rainy season. When they are not breeding, you can find them in Senegal and Togo. Sometimes, they have been seen in western Cameroon, even though that's not their usual home. These are called "vagrants."

Pied-winged Swallow Behaviour and Life Cycle

Reproduction and Nests

Breeding season for these swallows starts in April or May and lasts through June. Both the male and female swallows work together to build shallow nests out of mud. They line these nests with grass or other soft fibers they can find. Building a nest can take as long as a month. However, they often reuse their nests year after year, which saves time. Sometimes, their nests are built close to the nests of red-breasted swallows. They often build their nests on buildings or under the roof beams. One unusual nest was found about 4.6 meters (15 feet) down a well! Female swallows usually lay 4 pure white eggs, but sometimes they lay 3 eggs. The eggs are about 19.7 x 13.1 millimeters (0.78 x 0.52 inches) in size. Each egg weighs about 1.77 grams (0.06 ounces).

How They Fly and Eat

Pied-winged swallows are very fast and graceful flyers. They make many quick turns and banks when they fly. They catch most of their food while flying. They eat different kinds of insects that they catch in the air. Scientists don't know if they prefer certain types of insects over others. They usually hunt for food alone or in pairs over grassy areas. However, sometimes they will gather in larger groups. They might even join other types of swallows to hunt. Pied-winged swallows that live near people often fly over lawns to find food.