Nombre en español: Golondrina Aliblanca

Nombre en ingles: White-winged Swallow

Nombre cientifico: Tachycineta albiventer

Familia: Hirundinidae

Foto: Memo Gomez

Canto: Luiz C. Silva

La golondrina aliblanca o golondrina ala blanca (Tachycineta albiventer) es una ave residente en clima tropical y subtropical de América del Sur.

Distribución

Habita desde Panamá, Colombia, Venezuela y la isla Trinidad hasta el norte de la Argentina. Esta especie no es migratoria.

Descripción

El adulto de la golondrina aliblanca es de 13,2 cm de largo y pesa 17 g. Es irisado con azul verdoso en la parte superior, blanco en la parte inferior, la cola y los bordes de las plumas secundarias. Ambos sexos son similares, pero plumaje de los jóvenes es de color gris pardo por encima, aparte de la cola blanca. Su llamado es un chirrido áspero.

Las golondrina aliblanca son fácilmente distinguidas en relación a la golondrina bicolor, la que ocurre dentro de su distribución, por el blanco de sus alas; esto es carente en las demás Tachycineta. Las golondrinas aliblanca también tienen un pico más grande que las especies norteamericanas.

Hábitat

La golondrina aliblanca se encuentra generalmente cerca del agua, y se alimenta principalmente de insectos voladores. Normalmente se encuentran en parejas o en pequeños grupos. Esta golondrina construyen sus nidos con plumas de otras aves y algunas semillas en el hueco de un árbol, entre las rocas o en estructuras artificiales y empolla de 3 a 6 huevos blancos. Se encontró un nido en la Reserva Cuyabeno (Ecuador) el 30 de agosto de 2003, el cual contenía recién nacidos.

White-winged swallow

The white-winged swallow (Tachycineta albiventer) is a resident breeding swallow in tropical South America from Colombia, Venezuela, and Trinidad south to northern Argentina. It is not found west of the Andes. This swallow is largely non-migratory.

Taxonomy and etymology

The genus Tachycineta was established for this group of swallows by German ornithologist Jean Cabanis in 1850. The genus name derives from Ancient Greek takhukinetos, «moving quickly»; the specific name albiventer is from Latin albus, «white», and venter, «belly». This swallow is monotypic, and no subspecies are currently recognized.

Description

The adult white-winged swallow is 14 centimetres (5.5 in) long and weighs 14–17 grams (0.49–0.60 oz). It has iridescent blue-green upperparts, white underparts and rump, and white edgings to the secondary flight feathers. The wings are otherwise black, along with the tail. It has dark brown eyes and a black bill and legs. The sexes are similar, although it is noted that the females have slightly less white on the wing. Juveniles have grayer underparts and are duller in general when compared to the adults. The juvenile also has less white on the wing.

White-winged swallows can be distinguished from the similar mangrove swallow by the lack of a white line above its lores and a greater amount of white on its wings.

The call is a harsh chirrup or a repeated, rising, buzz-like zweeed. The alarm call is short and harsh.

Distribution and habitat

The white-winged swallow is native to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. Occasional vagrants reach Panama. They are usually not found on the Pacific coast, especially in the southern portion of South America.

The species is usually found in or near lowland areas along bodies of water such as rivers or lakes, at elevations of about 500 metres (1,600 ft).

Ecology

Diet

The white-winged swallow feeds primarily in flight at a low altitude, catching flying insects. It usually forages over water but may also feeds over land. In between foraging attempts, it usually perches on branches near bodies of water. Flight paths are direct and they fly with a flapping flight.

Nesting and breeding

The white-winged swallow builds a cup nest lined with other birds’ feathers and some seed inside a tree hole, between boulders or in man-made structures. Nests are usually built a few metres above water; pairs nest separately. The clutch is three to six white eggs, measuring 17 mm–20 mm × 13 mm–14.6 mm (0.67 in–0.79 in × 0.51 in–0.57 in) in size and weighing 1.9 grams (0.067 oz).

Migration

The white-winged swallow is resident in most of its range, although it is migratory in the southernmost part of its range. In Brazil and Argentina, it is only present from approximately mid September to mid April. Where this population winters is not well known, but it is most likely in the Guianas, Venezuela, and Columbia.

Conservation

The white-winged swallow is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, based on its very large range, apparently stable population, and large population size.