Red-chested Swallow

The Red-chested Swallow, Hirundo lucida, presents itself as a small, non-migratory passerine with a penchant for the skies of West Africa, the Congo Basin, and Ethiopia. This avian marvel boasts a long, deeply forked tail and wings that curve to a fine point, a silhouette that is poetry in motion against the African sky.

Identification Tips

Distinguishable from its barn swallow kin, the adult Red-chested Swallow is slightly more diminutive in stature. It sports a narrower blue breast band and tail streamers of a more modest length. The juveniles bear a closer resemblance to barn swallow chicks, yet upon closer inspection, their unique traits become evident.

Habitat

The Red-chested Swallow graces a variety of West African, Central African, and Ethiopian landscapes, thriving in the regions it calls home.

Distribution

This species is a familiar sight across West Africa, the Congo Basin, and Ethiopia, where it flits and glides with grace.

Behaviour

Observing the Red-chested Swallow, one is struck by its aerial agility and the ease with which it navigates its environment.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List categorizes the Red-chested Swallow as Least Concern, a testament to its current stable presence in the wild.