From Opus

Photo by Tony Brown
Photo taken: Cockburn Wetlands Perth, Australia.

Hirundo neoxena

[edit] Identification

15cm. Metallic blue-black above, light grey below on the breast and belly, rusty forehead, throat and upper breast, long forked tail, with a row of white spots on the individual feathers. The young are buffy white, instead of rufous, on the forehead and throat, and have shorter tail streamers.

[edit] Distribution

Australia and New Zealand.

[edit] Taxonomy

Two recognized subspecies

• H. n. neoxena
• H. n. carteri in western Australia

[edit] Habitat

A wide variety of habitats with the exception of the more heavily forested regions, mountains, and drier inland areas.

[edit] Behaviour

Both sexes build the open cup nest from mud and grass, lined with feathers and fur, which is attached to a vertical rock wall or building. 3-5 eggs are laid and are incubated by the female for 14-21 days. Both parents feed the young which fledge after a further 14-21 days. Two broods are often raised in a season.

The diet includes insects eaten while in flight.

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on the ABID