Unidentified

[ZaminOz]

We saw a few of these around Livingstone, particularly on the river, but I can't remember what this little fella is...?

 

 

Can any of you birdies help?

 

Cheers

[twaffle]

Is it some sort of swallow? I don't have a southern Africa bird book but it could be a barn or a wire tailed swallow. The band on the rump looks more like the wire tailed, but there isn't much in the way of wires. Perhaps it is a juvenile.

[ZaminOz]

I was guessing a swallow as well, judging by the wings.

 

Maybe a Grey-rumped Swallow? ... I wish I had been more of a student of Zambia's birdlife in my youth... alas I was not!

[Bugs]

Looks like a wire-tailed

[Rainbirder]

Wire-tailed was also my first reaction.

[ZaminOz]

I thought that wire tailed swallows had two long "wires" protruding from their tails?

 

... although I can see a bit of a "wire" in the picture?

Maybe he had an encounter with some wire cutters?

 

But judging by this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wire-tailed_swallow_adult_(Hirundo_smithii).jpg

you are probably right.

 

Thanks

[Bugs]

Wire cutters! LOL

[Molly]

I couldn't guess it but this bird looks very beautiful and cute.

[Nitin Bhardwaj]

Wire Tailed swallow juvenile.

[Atravelynn]

Nitin Bhardwaj, a most impressive debut! There is a lot of bird activity here and even a forum devoted to it. Welcome to safaritalk.

[NatureTravelNamibia]

Definitely a Wire-tailed Swallow. They often follow boats cruising on the river so are seen frequently on boat trips on the Zambezi and other rivers in the region. Great photo.

[Soukous]

Agreed, wire tailed swallow with a bit of growing to do