Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca)

Identification & Behavior: ~11.5 cm (4.5 in). The Blue-and-White Swallow has glossy blue upperparts. The throat and rest of the underparts are white with black vent and undertail coverts. Immature birds are a dull and grayish version of the adult. The tail is forked. It is the most common and widespread swallow, which forages at just about in every open space but avoids continuous forest and Puna grasslands. It is very similar to the Pale-footed Swallow but is distinguished by having a white throat and a slower flight pattern. Also, see Andean Swallow.

Status: The Blue-and-White Swallow is common in urban areas and open habitats from sea level to 4200 m in both slopes of the Andes. Amazonian birds are Austral migrants expected in Peru during the months of April through October. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Golondrina Azul y Blanca.

Sub-species: Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca cyanoleuca), (Vieillot), 1817.  E Costa Rica and Panama (highlands), Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad, the Guianas, and from Ecuador, N & E Peru and C & NE Brazil S to NW Argentina (Tucumán), Paraguay and Uruguay.
(Pygochelidon cyanoleuca peruviana), Chapman, 1922.  coastal Peru.
(Pygochelidon cyanoleuca patagonica), (d’Orhigny and Lafresnaye), 1837.  breeds from C Chile and C Argentina S to Tierra del Fuego; in non-breeding season N South America (S to N Chile and N Argentina) and S Central America.

Meaning of Name: Pygochelidon: Gr. puge= rumpa and khelidon, khelidonos= swallow. cyanoleuca: Gr. kuanos= dark-blue andleukos= white.

See more of the Family Hirundinidae