This family is comprised of swallows and martins which are characterised by their adaptation to aerial feeding. The name "martin" tends to be used for the squarer-tailed species, and the name "swallow" for the more fork-tailed species; however, there is no scientific distinction between these two groups.
The swallows have a cosmopolitan distribution across the world and breed on all the continents except Antarctica. It is believed that this family originated in Africa as hole-nesters; Africa still has the greatest diversity of species. A number of European and North American species are long-distance migrants; by contrast, the West and South African swallows are non-migratory.
Flycatchers also catch insects in the air. Flycatcher families: Monarchidae, Muscicapidae, Tyrannidae.
Genus Alopochelidon - 1 species
Swallow,_Tawny-headed Alopochelidon fucata Found: South America
The Tawny-headed Swallow has brownish-gray upperparts; biff (tawny) head, throat, upper-breast; white belly.
Image by: 1, 2) Cláudio Timm - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil 3) Nick Athanas - Brazil 4) Dario_Sanches
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Genus Atticora
Swallow,_Black-capped Atticora pileata also Notiochelidon p. Found: Mexico, Central America
The Black-capped Swallow has blackish upperparts, head; white throat, underparts.thick, forked tail.
Image by: 1) Dominic Sherony - Guatemala 2) Nick Athanas - Mexico
Swallow,_White-banded Atticora fasciata Found: South America
The White-banded Swallow has mainly dark blue plumage; white breast band.
Image by: 1) Charles_J_Sharp 2) Allan Hopkins 3) Barloventomagico 4) Nick Athanas - Brazil.JPG){kind=link}
Swallow,_White-thighed Atticora tibialis also Neochelidon t.Found: Panama, northern South America
The White-thighed Swallow has dark upperparts; paler underparts; hard to see whte leg tufts.
Image by: 1) Richard Sharpe 2) Bryant_Olsen - Columbia 3) Nick Athanas - Brazil
Genus Cecropis
The Cecropis swallows build their nests out of mud. They were previously consider part of Hirundo.
Swallow,_Greater_Striped Cecropis cucullata also Hirundo cucullata Found: Africa
The Greater-Striped Swallow has dark blue upperparts; pale orange rump; chestnut crown, nape; creamy white underparts with dark streaking; blackish-brown wings.
Similar to: Lesser Striped Swallow. Lesser Striped Swallow has heavy streaking on underparts than the larger Greater Striped Swallow.
Image by: 1, 2, 3) Derek Keats - South Africa 3) Bjørn_Christian_Tørrissen - South Africa Similar to: Lesser Striped Swallow. Lesser Striped Swallow has heavy streaking on underparts than the larger Greater Striped Swallow.
Swallow, Lesser Striped Cecropis abyssinica also Hirundo abyssinica Found: Africa
The Lesser Striped Swallow has dark blue upperparts; red rump; rufous-chestnut crown, nape; white underparts with heavy dark streaking.
Similar to: Greater Striped Swallow. Lesser Striped Swallow has heavy streaking on underparts than the larger Greater Striped Swallow.
Image by: 1) Jack Versloot - South Africa 2, 4) Dick Daniels - Kenya, South Africa 3) Charlie Westerinen - Botswana Similar to: Greater Striped Swallow. Lesser Striped Swallow has heavy streaking on underparts than the larger Greater Striped Swallow.
Swallow,_Mosque Cecropis senegalensis Found: Africa
The Mosque Swallow has mainly blue upperparts with reddish collar and rump; whitish throat, upper-breast; reddish lower-breast, belly.
Image by: 1) Richard Sharpe 2) Dick Daniels - specimen in Nairobi National Museum, Kenya 3) Steve_Garvie
Swallow,_Red-breasted also Rufous-chested Swallow Cecropis semirufa Found: Equatorial Africa
The Red-breasted Swallow has dark blue upperparts; reddish face, collar, rump, underparts; white under-wings; black flight feathers.
Similar to: Red-rumped Swallow. Red-breasted Swallow is much larger than Red-rumped Swallow.
Image by: 1) Alan_Manson 2) Derek Keats 3) Nigel_Voaden- DR CongoSimilar to: Red-rumped Swallow. Red-breasted Swallow is much larger than Red-rumped Swallow.
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Swallow,_Red-rumped Cecropis daurica Found: Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia
The Red-rumped has a pale or reddish rump, face, neck collar; black under-tail. See also Sri Lanka Swallow.
Similar to: Red-breasted Swallow. Red-breasted Swallow is much larger than Red-rumped Swallow.
Image by: 1, 2) Agustin_Povedan 3) Dick Daniels - Tanzania Similar to: Red-breasted Swallow. Red-breasted Swallow is much larger than Red-rumped Swallow.
Swallow, Rufous-bellied Cecropis badia Found: southeast Asia, Malaysia
The Rufous-bellied Swallow is sometimes considered a subspecies of the Stirated Sparrow.
Image by: 1) blueeyes (Dan)
Swallow,_Sri_Lanka also Ceylon Swallow Cecropis hyperythra Found: Sri Lanka
The Sri Lanka Swallow was considered a subspecies of the Red-rumped Swallow. It has blue upperparts; deep chestnut underparts.
Image by: 1) Richard Stead 2) David Cook
Swallow,_Striated Cecropis striolata Found: southeast Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines
The Striated Swallow has dark blue upperparts; reddish collar (may be missing); streaked chestnut rump; white underparts with heavy streaking.
Image by: 1) Lip Kee - Central Java, Indonesia 2) Hank.jpg){kind=link}
Genus Cheramoeca - 1 species
Swallow,_White-backed Cheramoeca leucosterna Found: Australia
The White-backed Swallow has a white back, throat, breast; gray crown; dark gray eye-stripe.
Image by: 1) Haller1962 2, 3) Brian_McCauley
Genus Delichon
Martin,_Asian House Delichon dasypus Found: Asia
The Asian House Martin has blue-black upperparts; white rump, throat; pale gray underparts.
Simiilar to: Nepal House Martin. Asian House Martin has white throat; Nepal House Martin has black throat.
Image by: 1) Cleany Lee 2, 3)
Stella C EagleSimiilar to: Nepal House Martin. Asian House Martin has white throat; Nepal House Martin has black throat.
Martin,_House also Common House Martin Delichon urbica also Delichon urbicum Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
House Martin has blue upperparts, head; white rump, underparts.
Similar to: Alpine Swift. Barn Swallow has dark blue upperparts; Alpine Swift has brown upperparts.
Similar to: Barn Swallow. House Martin has whiter underparts than Barn Swallow.
Image by: 1) Dick Daniels - Tanzania 2) Dick - South Africa 3) Dick - Scotland 4) Cristiano Crolle - Maggiore Lake, Italy Andreas_Trepte - GermanySimilar to: Alpine Swift. Barn Swallow has dark blue upperparts; Alpine Swift has brown upperparts.
Similar to: Barn Swallow. House Martin has whiter underparts than Barn Swallow.
Martin,_Nepal House Delichon nipalense Found: Asia
The Nepal House Martin has blue upperparts, head; white rump, underparts; black throat, tail.
Similar to: Asian House Martin. Asian House Martin has white throat; Nepal House Martin has black throat.
Image by: 1) chia_alfredSimilar to: Asian House Martin. Asian House Martin has white throat; Nepal House Martin has black throat.
Genus Hirundo
These are the typical swallows. Many of this group have blue backs, red on the face and sometimes the rump or nape, and whitish or rufous underparts. All of the species are found in the Old World, although one, the Barn Swallow, is cosmopolitan, also occurring in the Americas.
Swallow,_Angola Hirundo angolensis Found: Africa
The Angola Swallow has dark blue upperparts, narrow breast-band; rufous throat; dirty brown underparts.
Image by: 1) Haller1962 2) Joseph Smit 3) Tom Tarrant 
Swallow, Barn Hirundo rustica Found: The Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia
Barn Swallow has: dark blue upperparts; off-white to orange-brown underparts; deeply forked tail.
Similar to: Alpine Swift. Barn Swallow has dark blue upperparts; Alpine Swift has brown upperparts.
Similar to: Ethiopian Swallow. Barn Swallow has longer tail than Ethiopian Swallow
Similar to: House Martin. House Martin has whiter underparts than Barn Swallow.
Similar to: Red-chested Swallow. Red-chested Swallow is slightly smaller than Barn Swallow and has a narrow blue breast-band
Image by: 1) MPF 2, 3) Dick Daniels - New Hampshire 5) Dick Daniels - North Carolina
6, 7) Dick - Nepal 9) Cristiano Crolle - Monfrague, Spain 9) Jose Mochoge - Kenya 10) Ted van den BerghSimilar to: Alpine Swift. Barn Swallow has dark blue upperparts; Alpine Swift has brown upperparts.
Similar to: Ethiopian Swallow. Barn Swallow has longer tail than Ethiopian Swallow
Similar to: House Martin. House Martin has whiter underparts than Barn Swallow.
Similar to: Red-chested Swallow. Red-chested Swallow is slightly smaller than Barn Swallow and has a narrow blue breast-band
1, 2) Juvenile 3, 4, 5) Female
Swallow,_Black-and-Rufous Hirundo nigrorufa Found: Angola, Congo, Zambia
The Black-and-Rufous Swallow has bluish-black upperparts; rufous underparts.
Image by: 1) Richard Sharpe 2) Maans_Booysen - Angola 3) p_khoo
Swallow,_Blue Hirundo atrocaerulea Found: Africa
The Blue Swallow mainly steel-blue plumage; white on flanks and rumps usually not visible; long tail - especially in males.
Similar to: Black Saw-wing. Blue Swallow is bluer than Black Saw-wing.
Image by: 1) Richard Sharpe 2) p_khoo 3) TomSimilar to: Black Saw-wing. Blue Swallow is bluer than Black Saw-wing.
Swallow, Ethiopian Hirundo aethiopica Found: Africa
The Ethiopian Swallow has dark blue upperparts, partial collar; chestnut forehead; throat buff or white depending on subspcies; white lower-breast; belly.
Similar to: Barn Swallow. Barn Swallow has longer tail than Ethiopian Swallow
Image by: 1) Haller1962 2) Richard Sharpe 3) Sergey_Yeliseev 4) Aaron Maizlish - Ghana Similar to: Barn Swallow. Barn Swallow has longer tail than Ethiopian Swallow
Swallow, Hill Hirundo domicola Found: southern India, Sri Lanka
The Hill Swallow has blue back; brownish wings, tail; red face, throat; dusky underparts.
Image by: 1) Dharani_Prakash 2) Suranjan Fernando _by_Dharani_Prakash.jpg){kind=link}
Swallow,_Pacific Hirundo tahitica Found: Asia
The Pacific Swallow has metallic blue-black upperparts; rusty forehead, throat, upper-breast; off white rest of underparts.
Similar to: Welcome Swallow. Pacific Swallow has a shorter and less forked tail than Welcome Swallow.
Image by: 1) JJ Harrison 2) Johnny Wee 3) Tu7uh - MalaysiaSimilar to: Welcome Swallow. Pacific Swallow has a shorter and less forked tail than Welcome Swallow.
Swallow,_Pearl-breasted Hirundo dimidiata Found: Africa
The Pearl-breasted Swallow has gloss dark blue upperparts; blackish-blue wings, forked tail; grayish-white underparts.
Image by: 1) Haller1962 2, 3) Craig Adam - South Africa 4) Ron_Knight
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Swallow, Pied-wing Hirundo leucosoma Found: Africa
Image by: 1) Haller1962 2) Steve Garvie - Gambia 3) Charles_J_Sharp - Gambia 4) Matti Suopajärvi - Gambia
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Swallow, Red-chested Hirundo lucida Found: Africa
The Red-chested Swallow has dark blue upperparts; red throat, upper-breast; narrow blue breast-band; white lower-breast belly.
Similar to: Barn Swallow. Red-chested Swallow is slightly smaller than Barn Swallow and has a narrow blue breast-band.
Image by: 1) Haller1962 2) Richard Sharpe 3) Steve Garvie - The Gambia 4) Arthur de Wolf - GambiaSimilar to: Barn Swallow. Red-chested Swallow is slightly smaller than Barn Swallow and has a narrow blue breast-band.
Swallow, Welcome Hirundo neoxena Found: Australia, New Zealand
The Welcome Swallow has metallic blue-black upperparts; rusty forehead, throat, upper-breast; off white rest of underparts.
Similar to: Pacific Swallow. Pacific Swallow has a shorter and less forked tail than Welcome Swallow.
Image by: 1, 2, 3)
JJ Harrison - Tasmania, Australia 4) Laurie_BoyleSimilar to: Pacific Swallow. Pacific Swallow has a shorter and less forked tail than Welcome Swallow.
Swallow,_White-bibbed also White-throated Blue Swallow Hirundo nigrita Found: Africa
The White-bibbed Swallow has mainly blue plumage with a white throat . Wings are longer than its short tail.
Image by: 1) Haller1962 2) Richard Sharpe 3) Nik_Borrow - Ghana 4) Gael Van de weghe 
Swallow, White-tailed Hirundo megaensis Found: Ethiopia
The male White-tailed Swallow has glossy dark blue upperparts; white underparts. Female has less gloss upperparts.
Image by: Paul Donald
Swallow,_White-throated Hirundo albigularis Found: southern Africa
The White-throated Swallow has dark blue upperparts, breast band; chestnut forehead; white throat; grayish white underparts. Juvenile has brown crown.
Image by: 1) Arno Meintjes 2) Derek Keats - South Africa 3) Mike Cilliers - South Africa 4) Alan_Manson
1) Juvenile
Swallow, Wire-tailed Hirundo smithii Found: Asia, Africa
The Wire-tailed Swallow has bright blue upperparts; chestnut cap; white underparts.
Image by: 1) Frans_Vandewalle 2, 3)
Arno Meintjes 4) Lip
Kee Yap 
Genus Orochelidon
Swallow, Andean Orochelidon andecola also Haplochelidon a. Found: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru
The Andean Swallow has glossy dark blue upperparts;grayish brown underparts, rump.
Image by: 1) Charles Hesse 2) Pablo Contreras - Chile
Swallow,_Brown-bellied Orochelidon murina also Notiochelidon m. Found: South America
The Brown-bellied Swallow has very dark blue-green upperparts; dark brown wings, tail; brownish-gray underparts.
Image by: 1) Haller1962 2) Columbia Travel 2, 3, 4) Dick Daniels - Otavalo, Ecuador 5) Nick Athanas - Columbia
Swallow, Pale-footed Orochelidon flavipes also Notiochelidon f.Found: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
The Pale-footed Swallow has glossy dark blue upperparts; cinnamon throat; dark blue undertail; white underparts; blackish flanks.
Image by: 1) Andres CaballosGenus Petrochelidon
Cliff nesting swallows.
Martin,_Fairy Petrochelidon ariel Found: Australia
The Fairy Martin has dark blue upperparts; rufous crown, nape; white underpart,; square tail.
Image by:1) Aviceda 2) Oystercatcher 3) Jim Bendon 
Martin,_Streak-throated also Streak-throated Martin Petrochelidon fluvicola Found: south Asia
Image by: 1, 2) JM Garg - Asia
Martin,_Tree Petrochelidon nigricans Found: Australasia
The Tree Martin iridescent back, cown; brown wings, tail; rufous forehead; whitish rump; white underparts; shallowly forked tail.
Image by: 1) Laurie_Boyle 2) Tony Morris 3) David Cook 
Swallow, Cave Petrochelidon fulva Found: North America (southern USA, Mexico), Caribbean
Similar to: Cliff Sparrow. Cave Swallow forehead is never white, usually pale, but sometimes dark. The forehead patch is bigger than a Cliff Swallow's. Square tail.
Image by: 1) Andy Jones - Ohio 2, 3) Amy McAndrews - Mexico 
Swallow,_Chestnut-collared Petrochelidon rufocollaris Found: Ecuador, Peru
Image by: 1) John Gerrard Keulemans 2) Dick Daniels - Otavalo, Ecuador 3) Francesco Veronesi - Ecuador
Swallow, Cliff also American Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota Found: The Americas
Similar to: Cave Sparrow. Northern Cliff Swallow has white forehead, Mexian has dark forehead. The forehead patch is smaller than a Cave Swallow's. All have dark throat. Square tail.
Image by: 1) Maggie Smith 2) Elaine R Wilson - Oregon 3) Don DeBold - California
4) Ingrid Taylar - Cayucos, California 5) New Jersey Birds - New Jersey 6) DoriBot
Swallow,_Forest Petrochelidon fuliginosa Found: Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria
Image by: 1) Roger_Fotso - Cameroon
Swallow, Preuss's Cliff Petrochelidon preussi Found: Africa
Image by: 1) Ron Knight - Cameroon 2) Francesco Veronesi
Swallow,_Red-throated_Cliff also Red-throated Swallow Petrochelidon rufigula Found: Africa
Image by: 1) Haller1962 2) Richard Sharpe
Swallow,_South_African_Cliff Petrochelidon spilodera Found: Africa
Image by: 1)) Joseph Wolf 2, 3) Derek_Keats South Africa 4) Alan Manson - South Africa
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Genus Phedina
Martin,_Brazza's Phedina brazzae Found: Angola, the Congos
The Brazza's Martin has dark gray-brown upperparts;white-underparts with heavy dark streaking.
Image by: 1) Richard Sharpe
Martin,_Mascarene Phedina borbonica Found: Madagascar
The Mascarene Martin has dark gray-brown upperparts; lighter gray-brown breast; even lighter belly.
Image by: 1) Ross Tsai 2) Dick Daniels - Ranomafana, Madagascar 3, 4) Jerry_Oldenettel
Genus Progne
These swallow like birds are found in the Americas.
Martin,_Brown-chested Progne tapera Found: South America
The Brown-chested Martin has brown upperparts, upper-breast, vertical patch on belly; white rest of underparts .
Image by: 1) Dario Niz 2, 3) Claudio Timm
Brazil 4) Nick Athanas - Brazil
Martin,_Caribbean also White-bellied Martin Progne dominicensis Found: from Jamaica east to Tobago
The male Caribbean Martin has glossy blue-black upperparts, upper-breast, flanks; white lower-breast, belly; forked tail. Female duller than male; gray-brown upper-breast, flanks; white lower-breast, belly.
Image by: 1) Richard Sharpe 2) Mike's Birds - Tobago 3) Carlos De Soto Moli 4) David Fletcher
1) Pair 2) Female 3, 4, 5) Male
Martin,_Cuban Progne cryptoleuca Found: Cuba
The male Cuban Martin has glossy blue-black upperparts; blue breast, upper-belly; white under-belly. Female duller than male; gray-brown upper-breast; white lower-breast, belly.
Image by: 1, 2) Karl-Heinz Dohlich1) Female 2) Male
Martin,_Galapagos Progne modesta Found: The Galapagos Islands of Ecuador
The male Galapagos has dark blue plumage; female duller blue upperparts, dark brown underparts.
Image by: 1) John Gould 2) Jose Lama
Martin,_Gray-breasted Progne chalybea Found: Central and South America
The male Gray-breasted Martin has bluish-black upperparts; gray-brown throat, upper-breast; white lower-breast; belly. Female similar to male but duller upperparts.
Image by: 1, 2)
Cláudio Timm in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil 3, 4) Dick Daniels - Boquette, Panama 5) Len Blumin
2) Female 3, 4, 5) Male
Martin,_Peruvian Progne murphyi Found: Chile, Peru
The male Peruvian Martin has glossy blue upperparts. Female has gray plumage with blue across center of back and onto wings.
Image by: 1) Tor Egil Hogsas 2) Valverde1) Feale 2) Male
Martin,_Purple Progne subis Found: The Americas
The male Purple Martin has glossy bluish-black plumage with a blue sheen; deeply notched tail. Female has dark blue upperparts; pale nape; off-white underparts.
Similar to: Bank Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow. Female Purple Martin simlar to both sex of Bank Swallow and Northern Rough-winged Swallow. Female Purple Martin has darker back and darker breast.
Similar to: Southern Martin. Purple Martins are difficult to distinuish from Southern Martins. If found in Argentina, high probability it is a Southern Martin. If found in North America, it is a Purple Martin.
Image by: 1) OakleyOriginals - Oaklahoma 2, 5, 7, 8) Dick Daniels - North Carolina 3) Barloventomagico - Venezuela 4, 6) Dick - South CarolinaSimilar to: Bank Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow. Female Purple Martin simlar to both sex of Bank Swallow and Northern Rough-winged Swallow. Female Purple Martin has darker back and darker breast.
Similar to: Southern Martin. Purple Martins are difficult to distinuish from Southern Martins. If found in Argentina, high probability it is a Southern Martin. If found in North America, it is a Purple Martin.
1, 2) Juvenile 3, 4, 5) Female 6, 7, 8) Male
Martin,_Sinaloa Progne sinaloae Found: Guatemala, Mexico
The Male Sinaloa Martin has dark blue upperparts, head, throat; dark blue forked tail; white underparts. It breeds in Mexico; may migrate to South America.
Image by: 1) Nigel Voaden - Mexico
Martin,_Southern Progne elegans Found: Panama, South America
The male Southern Martin has glossy bluish-black plumage with a blue sheen; deeply notched tail. Female blackish upperparts; gray underparts with scaly appearance.
Similar to: Purple Martin. Purple Martins are difficult to distinuish from Southern Martins. If found in Argentina, high probability it is a Southern Martin. If found in North America, it is a Purple Martin.
Image by: 1) Claudio Timm - Argentina 2) Arthur Chapman - Argentina 3) Gustavo Fernando DuránSimilar to: Purple Martin. Purple Martins are difficult to distinuish from Southern Martins. If found in Argentina, high probability it is a Southern Martin. If found in North America, it is a Purple Martin.
1) Female
Genus Psalidoprocne
Saw-wing,_Black also Black Rough-winged Swallow Psalidoprocne pristoptera Found: Afica
The Black Saw-wing has mainly glossy blue-black plumage; forked tail. black or white under-wing depending on subspecies. Female has shorter outer tail feathers and less obvious wing serrations.
Similar to: Blue Swallow. Blue Swallow is bluer than Black Saw-wing.
Image by: 1) Haller1962 2) Richard Sharpe 3) Martin Goodey 4) Alan_Manson 5) Dave Curtis - KenyaSimilar to: Blue Swallow. Blue Swallow is bluer than Black Saw-wing.
Saw-wing,_Fanti Psalidoprocne obscura Found: Africa
The Fanti Saw-wing has glossy dark green plumage; long deeply forked tail.
Image by: 1) Haller1962 2) Steve Garvie- The Gambia 3) Matti_Suopajärvi
Saw-wing, Mountain Psalidoprocne fuliginosa Found: Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria
Image by: 1) Richard Sharpe 2) Ron Knight - Cameroon
Saw-wing,_Square-tailed Psalidoprocne nitens Found: Africa
Image by: 1) Haller1962 2) Nik_Borrow - Sierra Leone
Saw-wing,_White-headed Psalidoprocne albiceps Found: Africa
Image by: 1) Haller1962 2) Richard Sharpe 3) Nik_Borrow 2) Lee Hunter
Genus Pseudhirundo - 1 species
Swallow,_Gray-rumped Pseudhirundo griseopyga Found: Africa
Image by: 1) Haller1962 2) Richard Sharpe 3) Nydia Femandes - Mozambique 4) Heather_and_Mike - Zambia
Genus Pseudochelidon
Martin,_African River Pseudochelidon eurystomina Found: Africa
The African River Martin has mainly black upperparts with a blue-green gloss to the head; purple-black underparts; red eyes; orange-red bill; black square tail.
Image by: 1) John Gould
Martin,_White-eyed River Pseudochelidon sirintarae Found: southeast Asia
The White-eyed River Martin has mainly black upperparts; white band at tail base; white eye. It may be extinct.
Image by: 1) Shyamai 2) H E McClure
Genus Ptyonoprogne
These are small swallows with brown upperparts, paler underparts without a breast band, and a square tail with white patches. They can be distinguished from each other on size, the color shade of the upperparts and underparts, and minor plumage details like throat color.
Martin,_Dusty_Crag Ptyonoprogne concolor Found: south Asia
The Dusty Martin has brown upperparts; paler underparts.
Similar to: Eurasian Crag Martin. Eurasian Crag Martin is larger than Dusty Craig Martin and has more prominent white wing patches.
Image by: 1) Prasad Basavaraj 2) Anand Patre 3) Annishaikh1990Similar to: Eurasian Crag Martin. Eurasian Crag Martin is larger than Dusty Craig Martin and has more prominent white wing patches.
Martin,_Eurasian Crag Ptyonoprogne rupestris Found: southern Europe, northwestern Africa, southern Asia
The Eurasian Martin has brown upperparts; paler underparts; short square tail with distinctive white streaks.
Similar to: Dusty Crag Martin. Eurasian Crag Martin is larger than Dusty Craig Martin and has more prominent white wing patches.
Similar to: Rock Martin. Eurasian Crag Martin is larger than Rock Martin and has more prominent white wing patches.
Image by: 1) Martien Brand 2, 3, 4) JV Verde - Portugal 5) VictorSimilar to: Dusty Crag Martin. Eurasian Crag Martin is larger than Dusty Craig Martin and has more prominent white wing patches.
Similar to: Rock Martin. Eurasian Crag Martin is larger than Rock Martin and has more prominent white wing patches.
Martin,_Rock Ptyonoprogne fuligula Found: Africa
The Rock Martin has mainly brown plumage; paler on the underparts.
Similar to: Eurasian Crag Martin. Eurasian Crag Martin is larger than Rock Martin and has more prominent white wing patches.
Image by: 1) Haller1962 2, 3) Ian White - Botswana 4) Bernard_Dupont - South Africa 5) Nik_Borrow - Uganda 6) Joseph Mochoge - KenyaSimilar to: Eurasian Crag Martin. Eurasian Crag Martin is larger than Rock Martin and has more prominent white wing patches.
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Genus Pygochelidon
Swallow, Black-collared Atticora melanoleuca also Pygochelidon melanoleuca Found: South America
The Black-collared Swallow has blackish upperparts, head, breast-band, under-tail; white rest of plumage.
Image by: 1) Richard Sharpe 2) Amy McAndrews - Brazil
Swallow, Blue-and-white Pygochelidon cyanoleuca . Found: South America
The Blue-and-white Martin has dark blue upperparts; white underparts.
Image by: 1, 2) Cláudio
Timm - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil 3) Dick Daniels - Ecuador 4) Dick - Machu Piccu, Peru 5) Cristiano Crolle - River Tigre Delta, Argentina
1) Juvenile
Genus Riparia
These are small or medium-sized swallows, ranging from 11–17 cm in length. They are brown above and mainly white below, and all have a dark breast band. They are closely associated with water. They nest in tunnels usually excavated by the birds themselves in a natural sand bank or earth mound. They lay white eggs, which are incubated by both parents, in a nest of straw, grass, and feathers in a chamber at the end of the burrow.
Martin,_Banded Riparia cincta Found: Africa
The Banded Martin has brown upperparts; some white on forehead; white underparts with brown breast-band.
Image by: 1) Dick Daniels - specimen in Nairobi National Museum, Kenya 2) Arno Meintjes 3) Ian White - South Africa 4) Francesco_Veronesi - South Africa
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Martin,_Brown-throated Sand also Brown-throated Martin Riparia paludicola Found: Africa, Madagascar
The Brown-thoated Martin has brown upperparts, throat, legs; white or pale brown underparts; black bill. It and Gray-throated Martins were once consider part of the same species: Plain Martin - Riparia paludicola. The Gray-throated Martin is not found in Africa.
Similar to: Sand Martin. Brown-throated Martin lacks the brown breast-band of the Sand Martin.
Image by: 1) KC Hung 2) Sergy Yeliseev - Kenya 3) Joseph Mochoge - Gilgil, Kenya
4) Craig Adams - South Africa 5, 6) Dick Daniels - the De Hoop Nature Reserve, South AfricaSimilar to: Sand Martin. Brown-throated Martin lacks the brown breast-band of the Sand Martin.
Martin,_Congo Riparia congica Found: Congo
The Congo Martin has light brown upperparts; darker crown; pale brown breast; white belly; black bill; brown legs.
Image by: 1) Bruno Portier
Martin,_Gray-throated Riparia chinensis Found: Asia, northern Philippines
The Gray-thoated Martin has brown upperparts, legs; white or pale brown underparts; black bill. It and Brown-throated Martins were once consider part of the same species: Plain Martin - Riparia paludicola. The Brown-throated Martin is not found in Asia.
Similar to: Sand Martin. Gray-throated Martin lacks the brown breast-band of the Sand Martin.
Image by: 1) Thomas Hardwicke 2) Mukesh Jan 3) Global Bird WatchersSimilar to: Sand Martin. Gray-throated Martin lacks the brown breast-band of the Sand Martin.
Swallow, Bank also Martin,_Sand Riparia riparia Found: The Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa
The Sand Martin has brown upperparts, narrow breast band center breast patch, legs; black bill; white throat; belly. The Pale Sand Martin is the subspecies diluta of northern India and southeastern China is sometimes split as a separate species Riparia diluta. It has paler grey-brown upperparts and a less distinct breast band. It winters in Pakistan and southern India.
Similar to: Brown-throated Martin. Brown-throated Martin lacks the brown breast-band of the Sand Martin.
Similar to: Gray-throated Martin. Gary-throated Martin lacks the brown breast-band of the Sand Martin.
Similar to: Northern Rough-winged Swallow. The Bank Swallow is brown above, white below with a narrow brown band on the breast; the bill is black, the legs brown. It has a quick, jerky flight.
Similar to: Purple Martin,_ Female Purple Martin simlar to both sex of Bank Swallow. Female Purple Martin has darker back and darker breast.
Image by: 1) Alan Vernon 2) Cláudio Timm - Brazil 3) Michael Sveikutis 4) James Chavez - California 5) Francesco Veronesi - Kazakistan 6) Nigel Wedge - ScotlandSimilar to: Brown-throated Martin. Brown-throated Martin lacks the brown breast-band of the Sand Martin.
Similar to: Gray-throated Martin. Gary-throated Martin lacks the brown breast-band of the Sand Martin.
Similar to: Northern Rough-winged Swallow. The Bank Swallow is brown above, white below with a narrow brown band on the breast; the bill is black, the legs brown. It has a quick, jerky flight.
Similar to: Purple Martin,_ Female Purple Martin simlar to both sex of Bank Swallow. Female Purple Martin has darker back and darker breast.
5) Pale Sand Martin
Genus Stelgidopteryx
Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Stelgidopteryx serripennis Found: North America
Similar to: Bank Swallow. The Northern Rough-winged Swallow is brown on top with light underparts and a forked tail. Unlike the Bank Swallow, it does not have a brown band on the breast.
Similar to: Purple Martin. Female Purple Martin simlar to both sex of Northern Rough-winged Swallow. Female Purple Martin has darker back and darker breast.
Image by: 1, 2, 3) Alan D Wilson - Port Coquitlam, British Columbia 4) Mdf -
Ontario, Canada 5,6) Dori - WisconsonSimilar to: Purple Martin. Female Purple Martin simlar to both sex of Northern Rough-winged Swallow. Female Purple Martin has darker back and darker breast.
Swallow,_Southern_Rough-winged Stelgidopteryx ruficollis Found: Central and South America
The Southern Rough-winged Swallow has brown upperparts; lighter head, throat; white rump; pale yellowish belly.
Image by: 1, 2)
Cláudio Timm - Brazil 3 Julian_Londono - Columbia 4) Charles J Sharp
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1) Juvenile
Genus Tachycineta
These are slender swallows with forked tails. Most species have a metallic green back, green or blue head, and metallic blue or unglossed brown wings. All have pure white underparts, and four species have a white rump. They tend to breed in cavities near bodies of water.
Swallow, Bahama Tachycineta cyaneoviridis Found: Florida, Bahamas
Similar to: Violet-green Swallow. Bahama Swallow does not have white above the eye, Violet-green Swallow does.
Image by: Craig Nash
Swallow,_Chilean Tachycineta leucopyga also Tachycineta meyeni Found: South America
The Chilean Swallow has blue upperparts, white underparts, rump.
Image by: 1) Richard Sharpe 2, 3) Cláudio Timm - Brazil 4) Francesco_Veronesi
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Swallow,_Golden Tachycineta euchrysea Found: Hispaniola
The Golden Swallow has blue-green upper-tail, fore-head; darker wings; mostly white underparts. The nominate subspecies is extinct. That subspecies had more of a bronze color.
Image by: 1) Cproctor707 - Dominican Republic 2) Mitch Walters
Swallow,_Mangrove Tachycineta albilinea Found: Central America
The Mangrove Swallow has greenish blue upperparts; white underparts, rump.
Image by: 1) - Costa Rica 2) Jerry
Oldenettel - Costa Rica 3) Hans Hillewaert - Costa Rica 4) llsproat - Costa Rica
Swallow, Tree Tachycineta bicolor Found: North America
The adult Tree Swallow has iridescent blue-green upperparts, white underparts, and a very slightly forked tail. The female usually has duller colours than the male, often more greenish than the more bluish male.
Image by: 1) Alan Vernon 2) Maggie Smith 3, 8) Dick Daniels - New Hampshire 4) John Benson - Wisconsin 5) Len Blumin - California 6, 7) Dick - Assateague Island, Virginia 9) Dick
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1) Juvenile 2, 3) Female 4 - 7) Male
Swallow, Tumbes Tachycineta stolzmanni Found: Ecuador, Peru
Image by: 1) Charles Hesse
Swallow, Violet-green Tachycineta thalassina Found: The Americas
Adults are velvet green on their upperparts with white underparts and a forked tail; they have white patches on the side of the rump. The head is usually more coppery or brownish than the back, and the rump is a glossy violet color. In adult males, the white throat area extends behind and above the eyes; adult females are duller. Immature birds are brown on the upperparts.
Image by: 1) Len Blumin - California 2) Alan Vernon 3) Wolfgang Wander 4) Walter
Siegmund 5) Elaine R Wilson - British Columbia 6) Dick Daniels - Arizona 7) Dick - Washington
1) Juvenile 2) Female 3 - 7) Male
Swallow,_White-rumped Tachycineta leucorrhoa Found: South America
The White-rumped Swallow has greenish blue upperparts; white underparts, rump; white line in front of eye.
Image by: 1, 3)
Cláudio
Timm - Brazil 2) Valentina Ferretti - Argentina 4) Cristiano Crolle - Argentina 5, 6) Nick Athanas - Brazil_-_Juvenis.jpg){kind=link}
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3) Juveniles
Swallow,_White-winged Tachycineta albiventer Found: South America
The White-winged Swallow has bluish-green upperparts; white underparts, wings.
Image by: 1) Cláudio Timm - the Amazon, Brazil 2,
3) Dominic
Sherony 4) Tom
Friedel (BirdPhotos.com) - Venezuela 5) Nick Athanas - Ecuador
