Mosque Swallow
Encyclopedia
The Mosque Swallow is a large swallow. It is a resident breeder in much of sub-Sahara
n Africa
, although most common in the west. It does not migrate
, but will follow the rains to some extent.
This is a bird of open country with trees, and cultivated areas. It builds a closed mud nest with a tubular entrance in a cavity or under bridges and similar structures. It will use deserted buildings, tree holes or caves. Three or four eggs is a typical clutch.
Mosque Swallow is like a giant Red-rumped Swallow
, 25 cm long, with blue upperparts other than a reddish collar and rump. The face and underparts are reddish, but the underwings are white with dark flight feathers. The tail is forked, and slightly longer in the male. Juveniles are duller and browner, with less contrast.
It can be distinguished from the similar Rufous-chested Swallow
by the slightly larger size but shorter tail streamers. The dark crown extends below the eye in that species, but not in Mosque Swallow.
The flight is slow and heavy, and this and its large size can give a first impression of a falcon
rather than a hirundine. These birds feed on insects caught in the air.
Sahara
The Sahara is the world's second largest desert, after Antarctica. At over , it covers most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean...
n Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, although most common in the west. It does not migrate
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
, but will follow the rains to some extent.
This is a bird of open country with trees, and cultivated areas. It builds a closed mud nest with a tubular entrance in a cavity or under bridges and similar structures. It will use deserted buildings, tree holes or caves. Three or four eggs is a typical clutch.
Mosque Swallow is like a giant Red-rumped Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
The Red-rumped Swallow is a small passerine bird in the swallow family. It breeds in open hilly country of temperate southern Europe and Asia from Portugal and Spain to Japan, India and tropical Africa. The Indian and African birds are resident, but European and other Asian birds are migratory...
, 25 cm long, with blue upperparts other than a reddish collar and rump. The face and underparts are reddish, but the underwings are white with dark flight feathers. The tail is forked, and slightly longer in the male. Juveniles are duller and browner, with less contrast.
It can be distinguished from the similar Rufous-chested Swallow
Rufous-chested Swallow
The Rufous-chested Swallow , also known as the Red-breasted Swallow, is a large swallow. It breeds in equatorial Africa, although most common in the east. It is partially migratory, following the rains beyond the breeding range in the wet season.This is a bird of dry open country...
by the slightly larger size but shorter tail streamers. The dark crown extends below the eye in that species, but not in Mosque Swallow.
The flight is slow and heavy, and this and its large size can give a first impression of a falcon
Falcon
A falcon is any species of raptor in the genus Falco. The genus contains 37 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America....
rather than a hirundine. These birds feed on insects caught in the air.