Streak-throated swallow

Streak-throated swallow
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Hirundinidae
Genus:	Petrochelidon
Species:	P. fluvicola
Binomial name
	Petrochelidon fluvicola; (Blyth, 1855)
Synonyms
	Hirundo fluvicola ;

The streak-throated swallow or the Indian cliff swallow (Petrochelidon fluvicola) is a passerine bird, which includes a large number of other species including many swallows. It is native of South Asia where it is a breeder, year-round resident or winter visitor in the countries of Afghanistan, India, Nepal and Pakistan. It occurs as a vagrant in the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and the Middle East.^[1]

Taxonomy

The streak-throated swallow was first identified by the English zoologist Edward Blyth in 1855. It is currently placed in the genus Petrochelidon, identified by the German ornithologist Jean Cabanis in 1850. A synonym is Hirundo fluvicola. It belongs to the family Hirundinidae, named by the French polymath Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in 1815.^[2]

Description

The streak-throated swallow is a sparrow-sized bird about 11 cm (4.3 in) in length. It has a dull chestnut forehead and crown. The underparts are whitish, the upper feathers are steel-blue. The rump is pale brown and the tail has a square end. The brown streaks on the throat and chest are distinctive and used to differentiate from other similar birds. On cold mornings, large flocks are seen closely-packed on electric wires to catch the early sun. Its voice is a twittering chirp while perched. In flight, it utters a sharp trr-trr.^[3]^[4]

Distribution and habitat

The streak-throated swallow is a year-round resident in much of South Asia. It is found from the plains of Pakistan east along the base of the Himalayas to Sikkim. The range extends southwards through the Indian peninsula up to Point Calimere in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is found in large colonies in cultivated fields and open areas near ponds, lakes, canals and rivers.^[3]^[4]

Behaviour and ecology

The diet consists of midges and other tiny winged insects which are caught in the air. The nesting season is almost year round, from December to April and July to October. The birds build large colonial nests of mud. They consist of many pot-like nests fused together. Entrance to each nest is via a short tube.^[3]

Flocks of streak-throated sparrows appear to be attached to specific locations. This may be influenced by proximity to sources of food. In a college in Rajasthan, India, a flock of streak-throated swallows had built a nest colony about 9 m (30 ft) above the ground, under the roof. The nests were destroyed during renovation of the building in October 2010. Within 4 days, the birds started to rebuild the nests and they completed the colony within 4 months. Every year, despite destruction of their nests during cleaning of the building, the flock returned to the same site and rebuilt the nesting colony.^[5]

Gallery

Building nest in Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary, India
Nest colony, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Karnataka
Perched, Hyderabad, India
Perched on an electric wire, Srirangapatna, Karnataka
Rescued in Hyderabad, India

References

^ ^a ^b BirdLife International (2016). "Petrochelidon fluvicola". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22712458A94334424. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22712458A94334424.en. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
^ "Petrochelidon fluvicola (Blyth, 1855)". ITIS - Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 5 Aug 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c Ali, S. (2002). The Book of Indian Birds (13th ed.). New Delhi: Bombay Natural History Society Oxford University Press. pp. 44, 209. ISBN 0195665236.
^ ^a ^b Grimmett, R.; Inskipp, C.; Inskipp, T. (2011). Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 302–303. ISBN 9788193315095.
^ Ranga, M.M.; Koli, V.K.; Bhatnagar, C. (2011). "Resettlement and nesting of Streak-throated swallow Hirundo fluvicola Blyth, 1855". J. Bom. Nat. Hist. Soc. 108 (3). Bombay Natural History Society: 230–244.

[iucn-1] BirdLife International (2016). "Petrochelidon fluvicola". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22712458A94334424. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22712458A94334424.en. Retrieved 7 March 2022.

[2] "Petrochelidon fluvicola (Blyth, 1855)". ITIS - Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 5 Aug 2022.

[SalimAli-3] Ali, S. (2002). The Book of Indian Birds (13th ed.). New Delhi: Bombay Natural History Society Oxford University Press. pp. 44, 209. ISBN 0195665236.

[GrimmettInskipp-4] Grimmett, R.; Inskipp, C.; Inskipp, T. (2011). Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 302–303. ISBN 9788193315095.

[5] Ranga, M.M.; Koli, V.K.; Bhatnagar, C. (2011). "Resettlement and nesting of Streak-throated swallow Hirundo fluvicola Blyth, 1855". J. Bom. Nat. Hist. Soc. 108 (3). Bombay Natural History Society: 230–244.

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