TheChilean swallow(Tachycineta leucopyga) is a species ofbirdin the familyHirundinidae.It breeds in Chile andPatagonia,migrating north as far as Bolivia, Paraguay, andRio Grande do Sul.
| Chilean swallow | |
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Scientific classification
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Hirundinidae |
| Genus: | Tachycineta |
| Species: | T. leucopyga
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| Binomial name | |
| Tachycineta leucopyga (Meyen,1834)
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Taxonomy and etymology
editThe new genusTachycinetawas created for this group of swallows by German ornithologistJean Cabanisin 1850.[2]The current genus nameTachycineta,is fromAncient Greektakhukinetos,"moving quickly", and the specificmeyenicommemorates Prussian botanist and collectorFranz Meyen.[3]Some consider the species name to beleucopyga,which is what the species name originally was.[4]This species, along with thewhite-rumped swallow,T. leucorrhoa,form a superspecies. This species is monotypic.[5]
Description
editThe Chilean swallow is about 13 centimetres (5.1 in) in length and weighs 15–20 grams (0.53–0.71 oz). It is glossy blue-black above and white below with a white rump.[4]Its wings and tail are black, with white tips on its innersecondariesand itstertials.Their underwing coverts and auxiliaries are both grey. The Chilean swallow's bill and legs are black.[6]The sexes are alike, and the juveniles are duller and browner.[5]
It is similar to thewhite-rumped swallow,but lacks the white forehead of that species and has bluer upperparts and greyunderwing-coverts.In addition to this, the breeding ranges of the two have almost no overlap.[5][4]
Distribution
editThis swallow is native to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile,Falkland Islands,Paraguay, and Uruguay. It isvagranttoSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.This swallow can also be found in Peru, but its origin is uncertain.[1]Its breeding range is from theAtacama Desertin Chile and most of Argentina to the southern tip of South America. It is a year-round resident to the northern part of its range, but it is known to be migratory in the southern part. It is not well known where this population winters, but it seems to winter in northern Argentina, southern Brazil, Uruguay, and possibly Bolivia.[4]
Behaviour
editBreeding
editThis species has been seen to nest in both artificial and natural cavities, usually near water. They are usually solitary, although they will occasionally nest in loose groups if nest sites are near each other. Their nests are made from mud or dry grass and are lined with feathers.[5][4]
This swallow is aseasonal breeder.It usually breeds from September and sometimes early October, especially near the tip of South America, to February. In Chile, it usually raises two to three broods.[5][4]
The Chilean swallow usually has aclutchof four to six white eggs. The eggs measure 17.8 mm–21 mm × 13 mm–14.3 mm (0.70 in–0.83 in × 0.51 in–0.56 in) and weigh around 2 g (0.071 oz).[5][4]
After the breeding season, it is found that the Chilean swallow forms flocks.[5][4]
Diet
editThese birds areinsectivores,usually feeding on flying insects. They usually forage alone or in small groups. When foraging, their flight paths are low and direct.[5][4]
Status
editThe Chilean swallow is evaluated to beleast concernby theIUCN.The justification for this is the fact that the species is believed to have a range of about 2,180,000 km2(840,000 sq mi), its population is increasing, and the population is not believed to be small enough to bevulnerableunder the population size criterion.[1]
References
edit- ^abcBirdLife International(2017) [amended version of 2016 assessment]."Tachycineta meyeni".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2017:e.T22712071A118842769.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22712071A118842769.en.Retrieved12 September2024.
- ^Cabanis, Jean(1850).Museum Heineanum: Verzeichniss der ornithologischen Sammlung des Oberamtmann Ferdinand Heine auf Gut St. Burchard vor Halberstatdt(in German). Vol. 1. Halberstadt: Independently commissioned by R. Frantz. p. 48.RetrievedDecember 4,2016.
- ^Jobling, James A (2010).The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names.London: Christopher Helm. pp.253,377.ISBN978-1-4081-2501-4.
- ^abcdefghiMarion, Jonah Seth (2010). Schulenberg, Thomas S. (ed.)."Chilean Swallow (Tachycineta meyeni), Neotropical Birds Online".RetrievedDecember 10,2016.
- ^abcdefghTurner, Angela (2013). del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi; Christie, David A.; de Juana, Eduardo (eds.)."Chilean Swallow (Tachycineta meyeni) ".Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive.Barcelona: Lynx Edicions.Retrieved11 December2016.
- ^"Birding Patagonia - Chilean Swallow".Archived fromthe originalon December 20, 2016.RetrievedDecember 12,2016.