European Red-rumped Swallow

European Red-rumped Swallow

Cecropis rufula
Red-rumped Swallow, Yoav Perlman

Introduction

European Red-rumped Swallow is a scarce visitor to Britain & Ireland. Some individuals arrive in spring, overshooting their more southerly breeding sites, but others are reported from mid- to late-autumn.

European Red-rumped Swallow forms a species pair with its Asian counterpart, Eastern Red-rumped Swallow, with which it was considered a single species until 2025. European Red-rumped Swallow is a widespread breeding species across much of southern Europe, Africa, with its range extending eastwards to Pakistan. Northerly populations are migratory, while those in the south are mainly resident.

Red-rumped Swallow, Yoav Perlman

Key Stats

Weight
Weight
23.5g
BTO Records
BTO Records
3.4k records
Population and distribution stats for:

Identification

Curated resources to aid in the identification of European Red-rumped Swallow

Songs and Calls

Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of European Red-rumped Swallow, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

Flight call:

Movement

Information about European Red-rumped Swallow movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for European Red-rumped Swallow, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for European Red-rumped Swallow

Classification and Codes

  • Order: Passeriformes
  • Family: Hirundinidae
  • Scientific name: Cecropis rufula
  • Authority: Laxmann, 1769
  • BTO 2-letter code: VR
  • BTO 5-letter code: RERSW
  • Euring code number: 9950

Alternate species names

  • Catalan: oreneta cua-rogenca
  • Czech: vlaštovka skalní
  • Danish: Rødrygget Svale
  • Dutch: Roodstuitzwaluw
  • Estonian: roostepääsuke
  • Finnish: ruostepääsky
  • French: Hirondelle rousseline
  • German: Rötelschwalbe
  • Hungarian: vörhenyes fecske
  • Icelandic: Brandsvala
  • Irish: Fáinleog Ruaphrompach
  • Italian: Rondine rossiccia
  • Latvian: Daurijas bezdeliga
  • Lithuanian: daurine šelmenine kregžde
  • Norwegian: Amursvale
  • Polish: jaskólka rudawa
  • Portuguese: andorinha-dáurica
  • Slovak: lastovicka cervenochrbtá
  • Slovenian: rdeca lastovka
  • Spanish: Golondrina dáurica
  • Swedish: rostgumpsvala
  • Welsh: Gwennol Dingoch

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.
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