The grey-rumped swallow (Pseudhirundo griseopyga) is a species of swallow. It is the only member of the genus Pseudhirundo.
It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The Grey-rumped Swallow (Pseudhirundo griseopyga) is a small, dark blue/pale-bellied African swallow known for its unique habit of nesting in old rodent or kingfisher burrows in bare ground, often near water; it's an insectivore that catches prey in agile, low flight, sometimes following tractors, and is identified by its grey rump, slim body, and long tail, contrasting with the white rump of the similar House Martin.
Key Facts
Appearance: Dark blue upperparts, pale underparts, a distinctive grey rump (visible in flight), and a long, slim tail.
Habitat: Grasslands, savannas, open areas near water, including sandbars, golf courses, and airfields.
Diet: Aerial insects (flies, termites, beetles), often catching them low over water or ground, and sometimes opportunistically eating insects flushed by vehicles or fires.
Nesting: Unique for using abandoned burrows (rodents, bee-eaters) or digging its own tunnels (up to 1m long) in bare earth, lining the chamber with grass.
Behavior: Forages in small flocks, known for agile flight, and can be found near other swallow species.
Distribution: Widespread across sub-Saharan Africa.
Conservation: Considered Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN, potentially benefiting from habitat disturbance that creates bare ground.
Interesting Tidbit
It's the only member of its genus, Pseudhirundo, and is related to Australia's White-backed Swallow.
