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- Hirundo neoxena
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.
Distribution
Australia and New Zealand.
Taxonomy
Habitat
A wide variety of habitats with the exception of the more heavily forested regions and drier inland areas.
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.
