Sri Lanka Swallow
Cecropis hyperythra
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyHirundinidae (Swallows and Martins)
- GenusCecropis (Red-rumped Swallows, Striped Swallows, and Allies)
- SpeciesCecropis hyperythra (Sri Lanka Swallow)
About the Sri Lanka Swallow
The Sri Lanka swallow (Cecropis hyperythra) is a resident breeder endemic to Sri Lanka. It is closely related to the red-rumped swallow, and was formerly considered a subspecies. Quite a large swallow with a deeply forked tail. It has a deep rufous underside and an unmarked navy-blue rump, a unique feature of this species. Its rufous underside can be used to tell it apart from the red-rumped swallow. It is a passerine, which means it has three toes pointing forward and one pointing backward, allowing it to perch.
It is found in a variety of open country habitats in both the lowlands and foothills in Sri Lanka, including farm fields and lightly wooded areas. It usually lives in pairs or small groups. Rasmussen, P.C., and J.C. Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia. The Ripley guide. Volume 2: attributes and status. Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Edicions, Washington D.C. and Barcelona Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Sri Lanka Swallow in Sinharaja Forest Reserve
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Eastern Red-rumped Swallow
Cecropis daurica
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Hill Swallow
Hirundo domicola
Square-tailed Bulbul
Hypsipetes ganeesa
Orange-billed Babbler
Turdoides rufescens
Sri Lanka Drongo
Dicrurus lophorinus
White-bellied Drongo
Dicrurus caerulescens
Orange Minivet
Pericrocotus flammeus
Black-capped Bulbul
Pycnonotus melanicterus
Ceylon Magpie
Urocissa ornata
Pale-billed Flowerpecker
Dicaeum erythrorhynchos
Ceylon Myna
Gracula ptilogenys
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sinharaja Forest Reserve | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | |
| 2 | Yala National Park | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | |
| 3 | Wilpattu National Park | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | |
| 4 | Minneriya National Park | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | |
| 5 | Horton Plains National Park | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Sri Lanka Swallow in Sinharaja Forest Reserve?
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Sri Lanka Swallow sighting in Sinharaja Forest Reserve, based on 639 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Sri Lanka Swallow in Sinharaja Forest Reserve?
November has the highest sighting rate for Sri Lanka Swallow in Sinharaja Forest Reserve in our monthly data.