Lesser Striped Swallow

Identification

The lesser striped swallow is a large swallow measuring 15–10 cm in length. It is strikingly marked with dark blue upperparts contrasted by a deep red rump and a bright rufous-chestnut crown, nape and sides of the head. The underparts are white with distinctive dark streaking, while the upper wings and underwing flight feathers are blackish-brown, with tawny underwing coverts. The blackish tail features notably long outer feathers, which are slightly longer in males than females. Juveniles are duller and browner overall, with less contrast and shorter outer tail feathers.

When comparing this species to the larger greater striped swallow, the lesser striped swallow shows heavier and darker underparts striping, a deeper red rump, and a brighter head colour. There are five or six subspecies, which differ in the extent of their underpart streaking, providing useful regional identification clues across its range.

Range & Habitat

The lesser striped swallow is endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa, breeding from Sierra Leone and southern Sudan south into eastern South Africa. The species is partially migratory: South African birds winter further north, while West African birds leave the northern breeding range during the dry season. A handful of vagrant records exist, including a single historical record for Oman and one in Kuwait from May 2025, marking the first record for the Western Palaearctic.

This swallow favours wooded, mainly lowland habitats and prefers less open environments compared to its larger relative. It is replaced in montane grassland by the greater striped swallow. The species is common and often found around human habitation, having adapted well to nesting on buildings and other man-made structures.

Behaviour & Diet

Lesser striped swallows are aerial insectivores, feeding mainly on flying insects captured in flight. They have occasionally been observed eating small fruits. Their flight is characteristically erratic and agile, allowing them to pursue prey through the air with precision. They are vocal birds, with a distinctive nasal call described as zeh zeh zeh zeh zeh.

These swallows breed by constructing bowl-shaped mud nests with tubular entrances positioned on the underside of suitable structures. Nests may be built in caves, under rock overhangs, tree branches, or on man-made structures such as buildings, bridges and culverts—the latter has particularly benefited the species' population. When given a choice, they select high nest sites. The glossy white eggs, sometimes with a few brown spots, number three per typical clutch. The female incubates alone for 14–16 days, after which both parents feed the chicks through a fledging period of 17–19 days. Young birds return to the nest to roost for several days following their first flight. Nests may be reused in subsequent breeding seasons.

Best Time & Places to See It

The lesser striped swallow is common throughout its Sub-Saharan range and relatively easy to observe. As a partially migratory species, timing varies by location: South African populations are present as breeding visitors during the southern summer, while birds in West Africa are absent during the dry season. Look for them in wooded lowland habitats and around human settlements, villages and towns where suitable nesting structures exist.

Photography Tips

Photographing this species requires patience and fast shutter speeds to capture their erratic flight. The contrasting plumage—deep red rump, bright chestnut head and dark blue upperparts against white underparts—makes for striking images. Early morning and late afternoon light will best illuminate these colours. Search for birds around their nesting sites on buildings and structures, where they are often more predictable and stationary, allowing opportunities for perched portraits and behavioural shots. Their tendency to return to favoured roosting and nesting sites makes location-based waiting a productive strategy.