South African cliff swallow

"African swallow" redirects here. For the well-known plot element, see Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
South African cliff swallow
In flight, at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, Gauteng, South Africa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Hirundinidae
Genus: Petrochelidon
Species: P. spilodera
Binomial name
Petrochelidon spilodera
Sundevall, 1850
Synonyms
  • Hirundo spilodera

The South African cliff swallow (Petrochelidon spilodera), also known as the South African swallow, is a species of bird in the family Hirundinidae. It is found in Botswana, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Nests of the South African swallow under a highway bridge
Petrochelidon spilodera - MHNT

Nests are commonly built from mud under artificial structures such as huts and bridges.[1]

References

  1. "Hirundo spilodera (South African cliff-swallow)". Biodiversity Explorer. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
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