Scientific name: Hirundo daurica Linnaeus, 1771
Bird group: Swallows
Field characters. 16-18 cm. Looks like a paler Barn Swallow. Easily identified by orange rump-patch, cheeks and neck band, accentuating dark cap, and light coloured, not dark, throat. Other distinguishing characters are striped white underparts, light underwings and black tail, and upper- and undertail coverts, giving impression of 'trousers' and contrasting with light underparts and rump. Remainder of upperparts dark with blue metallic gloss, as Barn Swallow. Flight slower than Barn Swallow with long glides, making distant groups identifiable on this character alone.
Voice. More silent than Barn Swallow. Call 'uweet', 'chwet', 'treet'. Song chittering, but slower and less musical than Barn Swallow.
Distribution. Locally common summer visitor.
Habitat. Less dependent on human settlements than Barn Swallow, also occurring in more remote areas. Nests under roofs, ruins, bridges and in entrances of caves.
Food. Airborne invertebrates.