| Sri Lanka swallow | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Two adults in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Hirundinidae |
| Genus: | Cecropis |
| Species: | C. hyperythra |
| Binomial name | |
| Cecropis hyperythra (Blyth, 1849) | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
Cecropis daurica hyperythra Contents | |
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.
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. [3]
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. [3]
It usually lives in pairs or small groups. [3]
