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Sri Lanka swallow
Illustration by R. B. Sharpe (1894)
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Hirundinidae
Genus:	Cecropis
Species:	C. hyperythra
Binomial name
Cecropis hyperythra (Blyth, 1849)
Synonyms
Cecropis daurica hyperythra Hirundo daurica hyperythra

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.

Description

It is a large swallow with a tail which forks deeply, and the combination of deep rufous underside and navy blue rump without any marks is 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.

Habitat

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.

Behaviour

It usually lives in pairs or small groups.

References

• 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

1. BirdLife International (2017). "Cecropis hyperythra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T103812653A112878901. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T103812653A112878901.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
2. "Cecropis hyperythra". Avibase.
3. ^ "Sri Lanka Swallow - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 2020-07-29.

• IUCN Red List least concern species
• Cecropis
• Endemic birds of Sri Lanka
• Birds described in 1849
• Taxa named by Edward Blyth