Order
Passeriformes
Family
Hirundinidae
Genus
Tachycineta
 
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Version 1.0

This is a historic version of this account.  Current version

SPECIES

White-winged Swallow Tachycineta albiventer

Carolyn W. Sedgwick
Version: 1.0 — Published April 15, 2010

Behavior

Introduction

White-winged Swallows are often seen in pairs or small groups, especially when feeding. In Trinidad and Tobago, ffrench (1991) notes that more than 20 are seldomly seen together at any given time. Frequently seen perching in branches above bodies of water in between foraging attempts in which they fly low over the water hunting for insects. Occasionally White-winged Swallows are seen searching for food in pastures or grassy airstrips, but it most frequently seen near water. It rarely flies high and flies with a "direct flapping flight" (Turner and Rose 1989). Ridgely and Tudor (1989) note that White-winged Swallows permit humans to get within fairly close proximity before flying out over the water.

Territoriality

Territorial around other breeding White-winged Swallows. Consequently, pairs nest individually.

Sexual Behavior

White-winged Swallows nest solitarily. Sexual behavior of White-winged Swallows has not been thoroughly examined but swallows generally are monogamous, with a pair most often staying together throughout the breeding season and sometimes even for life. Typically, a male swallow scouts out a nesting location and will bring the female back to the site for approval (Turner and Rose 1989). To initiate copulation, a male swallow sometimes trembles his wings, spreads out his tail, and flies around the female, causing a receptive female to shake her own wings (Turner and Rose 1989) prior to copulating.

Social and interspecific behavior

White-winged Swallows often feed together in small groups. They also frequently are observed with White-banded Swallow (Atticora fasciata) throughout the Amazon.

Predation

No information specifically for White-winged Swallows but predation on swallow eggs or nestlings is not thought to be a significant cause of mortality (Tuner and Rose 1989).

Recommended Citation

Sedgwick, C. W. (2010). White-winged Swallow (Tachycineta albiventer), version 1.0. In Neotropical Birds Online (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/nb.whwswa1.01