25

European Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropsis rufula) German name(s): "Rötelschwalbe" Size: 14-19 cm (incl. 3-5 cm tail projection) Body mass: 19-29 g

Europe: Family Group 25 Family Group 25 Table Barn Swallow European Red-rumped Swallow Common House Martin Sand Martin Eurasian Crag Martin Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description European Red-rumped Swallows are similar in size to other swallows, while martins are smaller. The nape of the neck and the sides of the head are rusty-brown. The frons is grey, while the cap is black, as is the rest of the upperparts (the mantle is bluish-black, while the wing feathers are more dark-grey to black). Only the rump, which gives the species its name, is pale rusty-red. The cheeks and the front are creamy to buff, with light streaking. Only the undertail coverts are off-white without streaking. The tail is black and deeply forked. Male European Red-rumped Swallows tend to have longer tail streamers than females. The eyes have dark irises, while the very short bill is black; legs and feet are grey. Juveniles have a shorter tail, duller colours and a yellow-orange gape.

Taxonomy, classification See European Red-rumped Swallow at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Red-rumped Swallow is available HERE . Red-rumped Swallows are a partly migratory species with a number of different races whose overall range spans from southern Asia via Arabia and Africa to southern Europe. Most of those races are migratory, with the European and western Asian populations migrating to sub-Saharan Africa, while the central and eastern Asian populations migrate to more southerly locations in Asia and the Indian subcontinent. In Europe, European Red-rumped Swallows are found as breeding migrants only around the Mediterranean Sea and parts of the Black Sea coastline. Their core range in Europe is located in Greece (and as far to the North as the lower Danube River valley) and the southern 2/3 of the Iberian peninsula. Elsewhere their range is restricted to the coastal areas of southern France and coastal parts of Italy. European Red-rumped Swallows have a preference for open country, including mountainous terrain with little ground vegetation.

Sightings Click here for sighting information S. Cuturilov reports spotting European Red-rumped Swallows in Paralia, Greece, in September 2017. J. Pires reports finding European Red-rumped Swallows regularly in and around Mora, Evora, Portugal, where they breed annually. In October 2020 they were also found in Fuseta, Faro, Algarve, Portugal, while in April 2024 they were also found in Braganca, Tras-os-Montes, Portugal. G. Pinelas reports spotting European Red-rumped Swallows in Alcochete, Setubal, Portugal, in April 2019. G. Normand spotted European Red-rumped Swallows in Vlore, Albania, in August 2021. A. Sarok reports finding European Red-rumped Swallows nesting in Vojvodina, Serbia, in the timeframe 2010-2024.

Photos

ADULT

MALE

Near-lateral view of a male(?) European Red-rumped Swallow looking at the observer; note the long tail streamers
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Nossa Senhora de Aracelis, Castro Verde, Beja, Portugal, April 2023]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a male(?) European Red-rumped Swallow - note the rusty-red nape of the neck; the very long tail streamers suggest that this may be a male (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, August 2022]

Near-lateral view of a male European Red-rumped Swallow in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Quinta do Barracao da Vilarica, Alfandega da Fe, Braganca, Tras-os-Montes, Portugal, April 2024]

Lateral view of a male European Red-rumped Swallow in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a male European Red-rumped Swallow in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2019]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a European Red-rumped Swallow; the rusty-red sides of the head suggesting that this is an adult bird, combined with relatively short tail streamers, may indicate that this is a female (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, August 2020]

Frontal view of a female European Red-rumped Swallow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2025]

Lateral view of a female European Red-rumped Swallow balancing while turning around (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2025]

Sex unknown

Near-frontal/ventral view of a European Red-rumped Swallow (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Alcochete, Setubal, Portugal, April 2019]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a European Red-rumped Swallow stretching a wing (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Alcochete, Setubal, Portugal, April 2019]

Lateral view of a European Red-rumped Swallow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2019]

Lateral/ventral view of two European Red-rumped Swallows (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2016]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a European Red-rumped Swallow (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Alcochete, Setubal, Portugal, April 2019]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a European Red-rumped Swallow stretching its wings (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Alcochete, Setubal, Portugal, April 2019]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of two European Red-rumped Swallows, showing the characteristic red rump (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2017]

Dorsal view of a European Red-rumped Swallow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Raia river, Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2020]

Frontal view of a European Red-rumped Swallow in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Charca do Prates, Arraiolos, Evora, Portugal, April 2023]

Frontal view of a European Red-rumped Swallow in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2019]

Near-frontal view of a European Red-rumped Swallow in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Raia river, Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Lateral view onto the upperparts of a European Red-rumped Swallow in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Charca do Prates, Arraiolos, Evora, Portugal, April 2023]

Lateral/ventral view of a European Red-rumped Swallow in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Herdade do Esporao, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Evora, Portugal, January 2023]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a European Red-rumped Swallow in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Herdade do Esporao, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Evora, Portugal, January 2023]

Dorsal view of a European Red-rumped Swallow in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2019]

European Red-rumped Swallow, left, in comparison with a Sand Martin (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral/ventral view of a juvenile European Red-rumped Swallow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2015]

Lateral/ventral view of two juvenile European Red-rumped Swallows (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Fuseta, Faro, Algarve, Portugal, October 2020]

Lateral/ventral view of an adult European Red-rumped Swallow, centre, with two dependent juveniles (photo courtesy of S. Cuturilov)
[Paralia, Greece, September 2017]

Adult European Red-rumped Swallow, lower left, with a juvenile (photo courtesy of S. Cuturilov)
[Paralia, Greece, September 2017]

Begging juvenile European Red-rumped Swallow (photo courtesy of S. Cuturilov)
[Paralia, Greece, September 2017]

Lateral/ventral view of a juvenile European Red-rumped Swallow in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2018]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a juvenile European Red-rumped Swallow in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Santa Justa, Coruche, Portugal, September 2020]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Apr - Sep

Eggs: 2 - 7

Incubation period: ca. 14 days

Fledging age: 26 - 27 days

The length of the breeding season depends on geographic latitude and is different in Europe from other parts of their range. The number of eggs laid depends on race. Most commonly 4-5 eggs are laid. Pairs often have two, sometimes even 3 broods per season.

Nest building: Female & male

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

Type: Bottle-shaped mud nest

Material: Mud glued to overhanging surface, feathers

Height above ground: 5 - 20 m

European Red-rumped Swallow peeking out of its nest (photo courtesy of A. Sarok)
[Vojvodina, Serbia, date unknown]

European Red-rumped Swallow nest (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2013]

(Old, disused?) European Red-rumped Swallow nest (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2013]

Lateral view of a European Red-rumped Swallow collecting mud for its nest (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montes Novos, Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2024]

Eggs

Size: 20 x 14 mm

Colour: White

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Migratory

Elementary unit: Flock

European Red-rumped Swallows congregating in preparation for departure (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2018]

European Red-rumped Swallows congregating in preparation for departure (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2019]

Food, Diet

Adults: Small insects

Dependents: As adults

Water intake: Daily(?)

Like all other swallows known to us, European Red-rumped Swallows are insect hunters. They feed in-flight on small insects.

Near-frontal view of a European Red-rumped Swallow scooping up water in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2018]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

rrswall_jp_20220906.m4a	(Portugal)	Contact calls	© JP
rrswall_jp_20230405.m4a	(Portugal)	Various	© JP

More European Red-rumped Swallow sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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