Tuesday 9 June 2015

Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Cecropis ("Athenian woman") daurica ("Daurian")
                                            Adult Red-rumped Swallow (subspecies C. d. rufulaat Patones, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies: Cecropis daurica rufula
Weight: 24g  /  Length: 16-18cm  /  Wingspan: 33cm
NO UK STATUS IUCN Red List: Least Concern  

The Red-rumped swallow is largest hirundines found in Europe, being longer than Barn Swallows.  They are however a bit more limited in habitat and smaller in range - it is less colonial than Barn Swallows and seems to prefer rock faces to buildings, and has a differing nest construction.  Although known as the Red-rumped swallow, this name is a bit misleading - it's colouring is more orange than red and the face is more noticeably coloured than the rump.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Hirunidinidae
Genus: Cecropis
Subspecies: C. d. daurica, C. d. japonica, C. d. nipalensis, C. d. erythropygia, C. d. rufula, C. d. domicella, C. d. domicella, C. d. kumboensis, C. d. emini, C. d. melanocrissus

 - Sighting Locations -
SPAIN - Spanish - Golondrina dáurica ("Daurian Swallow")
Locally common Summer migrant.
 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Several seen at Patones and Toledo
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Several seen at El Pardo  and near the entrance to Monfrague
ITALY - Italian - Rondine rossiccia ("Reddish swallow")
A Summer visitor
 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - A few seen at Capo Murro di Porco 

Further Notes: BirdForum OpusIUCN Red ListRSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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