White-backed swallow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-backed swallow |
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Cheramoeca
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| Species: |
leucosterna
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The white-backed swallow (Cheramoeca leucosterna) is a special bird that lives only in Australia. It belongs to the swallow family, called Hirundinidae. Like other swallows, it is built for catching insects while flying.
You can easily spot this bird because it has a bright white back. Its wings and tail are black, which makes the white stand out. White-backed swallows live in many parts of Australia, from the south up to the Tropic of Capricorn. They love open grasslands and build their nests by digging tunnels in the ground.
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About the White-backed Swallow
The white-backed swallow was first described in 1841 by a famous bird expert named John Gould. He wrote about it in his book, "The Birds of Australia." Sometimes, people call this bird by other names, like "Black-and-white Swallow" or "White-breasted Swallow."
What Does It Look Like?
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Adult white-backed swallows are about 15 centimeters (6 inches) long. This is a similar size to other swallows you might find in Australia. They have a grey cap on their head and white stripes above their eyes. A grey stripe also goes across the back of their neck.
Most of their back and chest is white. Their belly, wings, and tail are black. They have a tail that splits deeply into two points, and their wings are curved and pointed. Their beak is short and black, and their legs and feet are grey. These birds have a sleek body shape and dark, noticeable eyes. Young swallows have duller colors than the adults.
Where Do They Live?
White-backed swallows are found only in Australia. They live in many areas, from the southern parts of the continent up to the Tropic of Capricorn. Sometimes, after a lot of rain in the inland areas, they can spread out and live in the desert regions too.
These swallows prefer open areas, especially grasslands with low bushes. When it's time to have babies, they really like to be near creek beds. There isn't an exact count of how many white-backed swallows there are, but they are known to be common. Their numbers are actually growing because of changes to the land, like clearing for farms or mining. Because they live in a large area and their population is increasing, they are considered a species of "least concern," meaning they are not currently at risk.
How Do They Behave?
White-backed swallows eat insects, just like all other swallows. They catch their food while flying. The types of insects they eat can change depending on where they live and the time of year.
These birds usually build their nests by digging a horizontal tunnel into a vertical dirt cliff. Other animals, like foxes and cats, sometimes try to eat the eggs or baby birds in their nests.
See also
In Spanish: Golondrina dorsiblanca para niños
