Pale-footed Swallow (Orochelidon flavipes)

Identification & Behavior: ~11.5 cm (4.5 in). The Pale-footed Swallow has glossy blue upperparts. The throat is rufous. The rest of the underparts are white with gray flanks and black vent and undertail coverts. The tail is forked. It flies fast and erratically through the canopy and edges of humid montane forests. It is similar to the Blue-and-White Swallow but is distinguished by a faster and seemingly more erratic flight behavior, and a rufous throat.  

Status: The Pale-footed Swallow is uncommon to fairly common on humid forests on the east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 2000-3500 m. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Golondrina de Pata Pálida.

Sub-species: Pale-footed Swallow (Orochelidon flavipes), (Chapman), 1922.

Meaning of Name: Orochelidon: Gr. oros, oreos= mountain (i.e. Ecuadorean Andes) and khelidon, khelidonos= swallow. flavipes: L. flavus= yellow, golden-yellow and pes, pedis= foot.

See more of the Family Hirundinidae