Angolan Swallow

The Angola swallow, a dainty bird native to the Afrotropics, measures a mere 15 cm in length and tips the scales at a lightweight 16 to 19 grams. Its plumage is a delightful tapestry of colors, with a deep rufous-chestnut adorning the forehead, throat, and upper breast, while a shiny steel-blue cloaks the crown and upperparts. The flight and tail feathers are a stark black, with the latter boasting large, conspicuous white windows.

Identification Tips

When observing the Angola swallow, look for the distinctive deep rufous-chestnut on the forehead, throat, and upper breast. The shiny steel-blue of the crown and upperparts, along with the black flight and tail feathers with their white windows, are key features that aid in its identification.

Habitat

The Angola swallow is quite the versatile resident, inhabiting a variety of open landscapes that stretch up to the very fringes of forests, be they shaped by the hands of man or sculpted by nature's own designs.

Distribution

This species graces the skies of several African nations, including Angola, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

Behaviour

In their quest for sustenance, Angola swallows may either forage solitarily or in convivial flocks, feasting on a smorgasbord of flying insects. Their vocalizations are a soft twittering, a gentle soundtrack to their aerial pursuits. The breeding season and their numbers vary significantly depending on their regional abode, with some populations embarking on migratory journeys.

Song & Calls

The Angola swallow communicates with a weak, yet charming twittering that can be heard during their flight.

Breeding

The timing and abundance of the Angola swallow's breeding season are closely tied to the region they inhabit, with some populations known to migrate.

Similar Species

The Angola swallow was once thought to be conspecific with the Red-chested swallow. However, it is now generally recognized as a distinct species within a complex that includes the Barn, Red-chested, Pacific, Welcome, White-throated, and Ethiopian swallows.

Diet and Feeding

A diet rich in a variety of flying insects sustains the Angola swallow, which they adeptly capture in flight, either alone or in the company of a flock.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the Angola swallow as Least Concern, indicating that, for now, this species does not face an immediate threat of extinction in the wild.

Subspecies

There are two recognized subspecies of the Angola swallow, namely H. a. angolensis, the type from Huíla Province in Angola, and H. a. arcticincta from East Africa. However, it is worth noting that there are intermediate forms between these two subspecies.