Chilean Swallow
Tachycineta leucopyga
Silhouette: Edwin Price · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyHirundinidae (Swallows and Martins)
- GenusTachycineta (Tachycineta Swallows)
- SpeciesTachycineta leucopyga (Chilean Swallow)
About the Chilean Swallow
The Chilean swallow (Tachycineta leucopyga) is a species of bird in the family Hirundinidae. It breeds in Chile and Patagonia, migrating north as far as Bolivia, Paraguay, and Rio Grande do Sul. The new genus Tachycineta was created for this group of swallows by German ornithologist Jean Cabanis in 1850. The current genus name Tachycineta, is from Ancient Greek takhukinetos, "moving quickly", and the specific meyeni commemorates Prussian botanist and collector Franz Meyen. Some consider the species name to be leucopyga, which is what the species name originally was. This species, along with the white-rumped swallow, T. leucorrhoa, form a superspecies. This species is monotypic.
The 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. Its wings and tail are black, with white tips on its inner secondaries and its tertials. Their underwing coverts and auxiliaries are both grey. The Chilean swallow's bill and legs are black. The sexes are alike, and the juveniles are duller and browner.
It is similar to the white-rumped swallow, but... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Chilean Swallow in Península Valdés
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Península Valdés
Southern Martin
Progne elegans
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Blue-and-white Swallow
Notiochelidon cyanoleuca
Bank Swallow
Riparia riparia
Brown-chested Martin
Progne tapera
Patagonian Mockingbird
Mimus patagonicus
Rufous-collared Sparrow
Zonotrichia capensis
Mourning Sierra-Finch
Rhopospina fruticeti
Long-tailed Meadowlark
Sturnella loyca
Sharp-billed Canastero
Asthenes pyrrholeuca
Common Diuca-Finch
Diuca diuca
Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail
Leptasthenura aegithaloides
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park | 🇨🇱 Chile | |
| 2 | Torres del Paine National Park | 🇨🇱 Chile | |
| 3 | Tierra del Fuego National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 4 | Nahuel Huapi National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 5 | Península Valdés | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 6 | Iberá National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 7 | El Impenetrable National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Chilean Swallow in Península Valdés?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Chilean Swallow sighting in Península Valdés, based on 53 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Chilean Swallow in Península Valdés?
January has the highest sighting rate for Chilean Swallow in Península Valdés in our monthly data.