Wire-tailed swallow: Hirundo smithii

Wire-tailed swallow : Hirundo smithii
(Adult Male)

 

Wire-tailed swallow : Hirundo smithii
(Juvenile)

Wire-tailed swallow: Hirundo smithii ; Hindi: Leishra (perhaps the tail wire resembles the 'Leishra' grass leaf); Sanskrit: Siti-paksa.

IUCN Status: Least Concern

Spotted at Dhankot, Basai, Haryana on 6.11.2014.

Male – notice the wire like fine filamentous projection extending from the

               tail feathers. Often these streamers are damaged, broken, or

absent.

-         Chestnut cap differentiates from Barn swallow.

-         Bright blue upperparts, almost electric blue.

-         White underparts extending to throat and chin. Differentiates from Barn swallow.

Juvenile – Dull brownish cap

-         Brownish cast to blue upperparts.

-         White unstreaked underparts and throat.

 

Distribution – widespread.

 

Feeding - Skim surface of water for insects.

Habitat – Open country, near lakes, rivers and canals. During summer, may

        be spotted near wet paddy fields and wetlands such as

        Dhankot-Basai.

 

Nesting – Cliffs, caves, mudbanks of canals and streams, under bridges (where this family was residing), houses and temple eaves.

 

Photographed at Dhankot village, Basai wetlands, Gurgaon, Haryana, India on 6.11.2014

Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with Tamron 150-600mm Lens