South African cliff swallow
| South African cliff swallow | |
|---|---|
| |
| In flight, at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, Gauteng, South Africa | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Hirundinidae |
| Genus: | Petrochelidon |
| Species: | P. spilodera |
| Binomial name | |
| Petrochelidon spilodera (Sundevall, 1850) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
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.[2] 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.[3]
Gallery
Nests of the South African swallow under a highway bridge
Petrochelidon spilodera - MHNT
References
- ^ BirdLife International (2017). "Petrochelidon spilodera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22712412A118750418. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22712412A118750418.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ "Hirundo spilodera (South African cliff-swallow)". Biodiversity Explorer. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
- ^ "Unladen Swallows". Interesting Engineering. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- BirdLife International 2004. Hirundo spilodera. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 26 July 2007.
External links
- South African Cliff Swallow - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds.