South African Swallow
Petrochelidon spilodera
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyHirundinidae (Swallows and Martins)
- GenusPetrochelidon (Cliff Swallows and Allies)
- SpeciesPetrochelidon spilodera (South African Swallow)
About the South African Swallow
The South African cliff swallow (Petrochelidon spilodera), also known as the South African swallow, is a species of bird in the family Hirundinidae native southern Africa. It winters to the lower Congo Basin. Nests are commonly built from mud under artificial structures such as huts and bridges. It is well known for its supposed ability to carry coconuts, although this claim has little to no credibility outside of the Monty Python fictional universe.
BirdLife International 2004. Hirundo spilodera. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 26 July 2007. South African Cliff Swallow - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds. Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of South African Swallow in Namib-Naukluft National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Namib-Naukluft National Park
Rock Martin
Ptyonoprogne fuligula
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Greater Striped-Swallow
Cecropis cucullata
Pearl-breasted Swallow
Hirundo dimidiata
Plain Martin
Riparia paludicola
White-throated Swallow
Hirundo albigularis
House Martin
Delichon urbicum
Rufous-chested Swallow
Cecropis semirufa
Banded Martin
Riparia cincta
Cape Sparrow
Passer melanurus
Cape Wagtail
Motacilla capensis
African Red-eyed Bulbul
Pycnonotus nigricans
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Etosha National Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 2 | Namib-Naukluft National Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 3 | Kruger National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 4 | Golden Gate Highlands National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 5 | Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 6 | Waterberg Plateau Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 7 | Hwange National Park | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | |
| 8 | Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 9 | Chobe National Park | 🇧🇼 Botswana | |
| 10 | iSimangaliso Wetland Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 11 | Addo Elephant National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 12 | Moremi Game Reserve | 🇧🇼 Botswana |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a South African Swallow in Namib-Naukluft National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a South African Swallow sighting in Namib-Naukluft National Park, based on 19 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see South African Swallow in Namib-Naukluft National Park?
September has the highest sighting rate for South African Swallow in Namib-Naukluft National Park in our monthly data.