Least Concern Birds

Greater Striped Swallow

Cecropis cucullata

Greater Striped Swallow, insectivorous bird of African grasslands near water.

Scientific name	Cecropis cucullata
Conservation status	Least Concern
Class	Aves
Order	Passeriformes
Family	Hirundinidae
Size	Male: approximately 20-22 cm, weight about 30-40 g; female slightly smaller and lighter

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How to identify

Distinct deep blue gloss on back and wings; chest and belly orange-yellow; long, forked tail with stripes; dark stripes on crown and neck; tail prominently spread during flight

Habitat

Open grasslands, wooded savannas, shrublands, and areas near water sources

Diet

Primarily insectivorous, feeding on flying insects caught in flight

When it is active

Diurnal, active during the day, especially frequent at dawn and dusk

Where it lives

Mainly distributed in southern and eastern Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe; common in the Maasai Mara region

How to spot it

Observe in open grasslands and shrubs near water sources; easiest to spot during hunting flights at dawn and dusk

Photography tips

Use a telephoto lens to capture flight dynamics; pay attention to light angles to highlight the blue gloss on the back and the forked tail features

Threats

Habitat destruction and reduction due to agricultural expansion

Similar species

Similar to the Lesser Striped Swallow (Cecropis abyssinica), but the Greater Striped Swallow is larger, with a longer tail and more distinct dorsal stripes

📖 how to spot the greater striped swallow on safari