Fr: Hirondelle bleu et blanc
Ang: Blue-and-white Swallow
All: Schwarzsteißschwalbe
Esp: Golondrina Barranquera
Ita: Rondine biancoblu
Nd: Blauw-witte Zwaluw
Sd: blåvit svala
Photographers:
Roger Ahlman
Pbase Galleries Peru and Ecuador
Jean-Claude Billonneau
Photographe-témoin de la Beauté du Monde
Didier Buysse
Vision d’Oiseaux
Jean Michel Fenerole
Photos d’Oiseaux du monde
Text by Nicole Bouglouan
Sources:
HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF THE WORLD Vol 9 - by Josep del Hoyo - Andrew Elliot - David Christie - Lynx Edicions - ISBN: 8487334695
BIRDS OF PERU by Thomas S. Schulenberg, Douglas F. Stotz, Daniel F. Lane, John P. O’Neill, Theodore A. Parker III – Princeton University Press 2007- ISBN: 978-0-691-13023-1
Revise the generic limits of Neotropical swallows
Arthur Grosset's Birds (Arthur Grosset)
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre
Blue-and-white Swallow
Pygochelidon cyanoleuca
Passeriformes Order – Hirundinidae Family
INTRODUCTION:
The Blue-and-white Swallow is endemic to Central and South America. Three subspecies share this wide range, but the southern populations are migratory.
It frequents open areas, farms and open clearings, but also villages and towns. It usually occurs from the lowlands to 4,000 metres of elevation, but the populations of Central America are mostly highland species.
The diet consists mainly of insects, especially Hymenopterans, but also winged ants, parasitic species and several others caught in flight, alone or in loose groups.
The species is monogamous and both mates remain together during the year. The nest is built in crevice, burrow and other closed sites and cavities. Both adults share all the nesting duties.
The Blue-and-white Swallow was formerly placed in the genus Notiochelidon, but it is now in the resurrected genus Pygochelidon, based on a phylogenetic study published in 2005.
The population of the Blue-and-white Swallow is suspected to be increasing, although some local declines have occurred, following the extermination of the rodent Lagostomus maximus in an area, limiting the burrow availability for nesting.
But currently, the species is not globally threatened.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BIRD:
Biometrics:
Length: 12 cm
Weight: 9-13 g
The Blue-and-white Swallow of nominate race has glossy blue upperparts on mantle, back, rump and uppertail-coverts. Some pale grey spots are visible on the mantle. On the upperwing, the wing-coverts show steel-blue edges, less distinct on the greater coverts.
On the white underparts, we can see a grey tinge on body sides and flanks. In fresh plumage, the underparts may appear warm buff. Vent and undertail-coverts are black, the latter with steel-blue margins.
On the underwing, the wing-coverts are dark grey to blackish. Both flight-feathers and rectrices are mostly grey-black. The short tail is slightly forked.
On the head, forehead and crown are glossy steel-blue, although ear coverts and lores are duller, mostly blackish-blue. Lower cheeks, chin, throat and neck sides are white.
The bill is black.
The eyes are dark brown.
Legs and feet are blackish.
Male and female have similar appearance but the female is slightly smaller and she has duller white and stronger buffy coloration.
The Blue-and-white Swallow begins to moult towards the end of the breeding season.
The juvenile has grey-brown upperparts with some bluish gloss. Crown and back are duller. Wings and tail are darker, mostly blackish-brown. On the underparts, chin and throat are white with buff wash, whereas breast band and sides are grey with buff tinge. The undertail-coverts are dull brown, sometimes with white tips. The tail is less forked than the adults.
SUBSPECIES AND RANGE:
The Blue-and-white Swallow has three subspecies.
P.c. cyanoleuca (described above) occurs in the highlands of Costa Rica, S to Venezuela, Brazil, and northern Argentina.
P.c. peruviana is found in coastal Peru (from La Libertad to Arequipa).
This one is smaller than nominate, with very little white on undertail-coverts. On the body sides, the brown colour is darker and more extensive. The underwing-coverts are pale grey.
P.c. patagonica occurs in C Chile and Argentina to Tierra del Fuego.
This race is larger than nominate. The longer undertail-coverts are black, whereas the anterior ones are white. The body sides are paler. The underwing-coverts are pale ashy-grey.
HABITAT:
The Blue-and-white Swallow frequents mostly open habitats including forest clearings, wetlands and riversides, especially near ravines, but also farmlands where it can find flying insects. The species occurs in villages and towns too.
The race P.c. peruviana frequents mainly open lowland habitats, whereas the birds of the northern parts of the range prefer the highlands, up to 4,000 metres of elevation.
CALLS AND SONGS: SOUNDS BY XENO-CANTO
The call of the Blue-and-white Swallow is a shrill, yet somewhat liquid “twe”. Sharp, twittering calls are given during the flight.
The song is a series of buzzy, musical trills and thin warbler. It is described as a long trill often given in flight. It begins with a gurgling sputter “dzzhreeeee” ascending towards the end. We can also hear a characteristic sound, call or song, a gravely warble ending with a piercing “cheet-djshhhhhhhhTEW”.
When the bird is alarmed, it produces low, harsh notes.
The contact call between mates is a chirp-like sound of one or two syllable.
The song of the subspecies P.c. patagonica is a short “trip”.
BEHAVIOUR IN THE WILD:
The Blue-and-white Swallow feeds primarily on insects caught in the air. Hymenopterans are the main part of the diet, including winged ants and parasitic insect species. During the non-breeding season, they feed mostly on some beetles, plant bugs and moths.
They have been observed to gather where termites swarm. But they often catch insects in mid-air while flying alone or in small groups in agile manoeuvres, up to 25 metres in the air in open areas, near trees or animals in farmlands.
The Blue-and-white Swallow is monogamous, and both mates remain together throughout the year. During the night, they sleep in their own roost which is later often used as nest-site.
This species is very territorial and intruders are strongly chased. Interactions include aerial displays and vocalizations, in order to establish territory and attract mates.
Depending on nest-site availability, they may nest alone or in loose groups.
The Blue-and-white Swallow builds its nest in natural or man-made cavities such as burrows, tree holes, rock crevices and bridges. Both adults share the nesting duties.
The Blue-and-white Swallow is endemic to the Americas. The northern populations are resident.
The southern population of the subspecies P.c. patagonica that occurs in Patagonia (from Neuquén and Río Negro to Tierra del Fuego) migrates to northern South America to spend the winter. They arrive in August-September in Argentina and Uruguay, and depart in January-March.
P.c. patagonica
Birds in active molt
The Blue-and-white Swallow has fluttery and agile flight. They can be seen flying in groups with acrobatic swoops and dives while catching insects in mid-air. However, these flights are also used to maintain the social bonds within the group.
This species is known for its speed, capable of flying at speeds of up to 64 km/hour.
P.c. patagonica
Juvenile
P.c. patagonica
Juvenile
REPRODUCTION OF THIS SPECIES:
The breeding season varies, depending on the range. It occurs mainly from January to June-July. In Colombia, the peak occurs in September to December, February to April and June to August. It takes place from October to February in the temperate regions of South America.
The Blue-and-white Swallow nests in isolated pairs or in loose colonies, depending on nest-site availability. Both adults build the nest in natural or man-made cavities such as eaves, rock crevices, burrows, ravine, sheltered cliffs, tree hollows and holes in walls or bridges.
The nest is made with mud, grass and feathers, forming a strong structure to protect the chicks.
The female lays 3-5 glossy white eggs, and up to 6 in Chile and Argentina. The incubation lasts about 15 days, shared by both adults. At hatching, the chicks have sparse down and closed eyes. At 9-10 days old, they begin to gain a cover of feathers.
They are fed by both parents during 25-26 days, when they fledge. The diet of the chicks includes Dipterans, ants, beetles and mayflies (Ephemeropterans). However, they still sleep in the nest with their parents for up to two months.
The Blue-and-white Swallow may produce two broods per season.
PROTECTION / THREATS / STATUS:
The Blue-and-white Swallow has extremely large range. The species has benefited from deforestation and human settlements providing suitable habitat, nest-sites and food resources.
Predation by large Birds of Prey such as hawks and falcons, but also by snakes invading the nests, may cause some declines.
The size of the population is estimated to number 5,000,000-50,000,000 mature individuals (2019).
It is suspected to be increasing, although some local declines have occurred, following the extermination of the rodent Lagostomus maximus in an area, limiting the burrow availability for nesting.
But the species is not globally threatened, and currently, the Blue-and-white Swallow is evaluated as Least Concern.
P.c. patagonica
Birds in active molt
