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Lesser Striped Swallow


Lesser Striped Swallow
Photo Information
Copyright: Vivian Droog (viv) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 292 W: 3 N: 653] (3317)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-10-16
Categories: Birds
Camera: Konika Minolta Dynax 7D, Sigma 170-500mm f/5-6.3 AF APO Ultra DG, Soligor UV
Exposure: f/6.7, 1/125 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-08-25 4:34
Viewed: 5276
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Lesser Striped Swallow
A medium-sized swallow with a pale orange-brown cap; and a broadly streaked breast and belly. Size 15-17 cm - about the size of a Cape Sparrow. Afrikaans: Kleinstreepswael

The bill is short and slender, and it has a very wide gape. The bill is black and the legs and feet are brown. This species has an orange-brown cap, which extends onto the ear-coverts. The orange-brown areas are a richer colour than those on the Greater Striped Swallow. The rump is also orange-brown and the rest of the upperparts are dark glossy blue-black.

The underparts are creamy white, with bold, black streaking on the underparts. The streaking is much more heavy and bold than that of the Greater Striped Swallow. The streaking extends from the chin to the breast and flanks. The outer tail feathers are quite long and dark, and the undertail area is whitish.

The Lesser Striped Swallow is a common summer migrant to the warmer areas of the region. It is usually seen in pairs or small groups, and is most often seen close to the nest sites on a house or culvert, or some other man-made structure.

The Lesser Striped Swallow eats mainly aerial insects, but also some seeds.

The call is a loud squeaky nasal song of 9-10 notes, chip chip chwip, kreek, kreek, kreek, chwip.

The Lesser Striped Swallow breeds from July to April, and usually raises two broods per season. The nest is an enclosed bowl, suspended on the underside of a horizontal surface such as a fallen tree, roof of verandah, culvert or bridge. The nest has a long entrance tunnel and is built entirely from mud pellets and lined with grass and other fine material.
zulfu, uleko, JRushen has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

mooie foto zeg! Ik heb deze zelf helaas niet gezien in Zuid Africa. alleen jammer van het puntje van zijn/haar staart

gr
Jeroen

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer [C: 685 W: 0 N: 2] (43)
  • [2009-08-25 9:34]

Lovely pose:) i liked so much.
TFS and G's,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2009-08-25 10:04]

Hello Vivian,
Great capture of a very 'different' Swallow!! I love its colours and the speckled plumage.
Great sharpness and a beautiful background.
Very well done!
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5136 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2009-08-25 10:42]

Hallo Vivian,
Mooie foto van deze zwaluw. Ik heb er nog niet veel goede foto's van gezien. Het bijzondere aan deze is dat hij zo dichtbij genomen is. Goede compositie en oog-contact.
Groet,
Peter

Hi Viv,
a excellent picture of this beautiful swallow. Seem as if it was looking up toward something?
regards
Pierre

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