Andean Swallow (Orochelidon andecola)

Identification & Behavior: ~14 cm (5.5 in). The Andean Swallow has dark blue upperparts with a gray rump. The throat is gray and grades to whitish towards the rest of the underparts. The vent and undertail coverts are whitish. It forages at high elevations mostly over puna grasslands. It is similar to the Brown-bellied Swallow but is distinguished by a dusky throat, whitish underparts, nearly square tail, whitish vent, and undertail coverts, and by foraging at high elevations largely over puna grasslands. Also, see the smaller Blue-and-White Swallow.

Status: The Andean Swallow is uncommon over puna grasslands at elevations ranging between 3500-4600 m. It also occurs in Bo and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Golondrina Andina.

Sub-species: Andean Swallow (Orochelidon andecola oroyae) (Chapman), 1924.  C Peru.
(Orochelidon andecola andecola), (d’Orbigny and Lafresnaye), 1837.  Andes in S Peru, extreme N Chile (Arica, Tarapacá), C & S Bolivia and NW Argentina (Salta, Jujuy).

Meaning of Name: Orochelidon: Gr. oros, oreos= mountain (i.e. Ecuadorean Andes) and khelidon, khelidonos= swallow. andecola: Ande= In reference to the mountain chain in South America and L cola= dweller or to dwell in.

See more of the Family Hirundinidae