Brown-bellied Swallow (Orochelidon murina)

Identification & Behavior: ~13.5 cm (5.2 in). The Brown-bellied Swallow is glossy blue above and gray below, with a lighter gray throat. The vent and undertail coverts are black. The tail is forked. It forages over Andean scrub, humid grasslands, agricultural fields and in human settlements. It shares the gray underparts with the similar White-thighed Swallow but is larger and ranges at high elevations in the Andes. No range overlap. Also, see Blue-and-White Swallow and Andean Swallow.

Status: The Brown-bellied Swallow is uncommon on both slopes of the Andes at elevations ranging between 2200-4300 m. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Golondrina de Vientre Pardo.

Sub-species: Brown-bellied Swallow (Orochelidon murina murina), (Cassin), 1853.  Andes in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
(Orochelidon murina cyanodorsalis), Carriker, 1935.  S Peru and C Bolivia.

Meaning of Name: Orochelidon: Gr. oros, oreos= mountain (i.e. Ecuadorean Andes) and khelidon, khelidonos= swallow. murina: Mod. L. murinus= mouse-grey.

See more of the Family Hirundinidae