Hirundinidae

The Hirundinidae are a group of passerine birds characterised by their adaptation to aerial feeding, and known as swallows and martins. There is no scientific distinction between the two names, but the squarer tailed species tend to be called martins.

Their adaptations to hunting insects on the wing are a slender streamlined body, and long pointed wings. Like the unrelated swifts and nightjars, which hunt in a similar way, they have short bills, but a wide gape.

The feet are designed for perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base. Many species have long tails.

• African River Martin Pseudochelidon eurystomina
• White-eyed River Martin Pseudochelidon sirintarae
• White-thighed Swallow Neochelidon fibialis
• Tawny-headed Swallow Alopochelidon fucata
• Southern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx ruficollis
• Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
• Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor
• Mangrove Swallow Tachycineta albilinea
• White-winged Swallow Tachycineta albiventer
• Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina
• White-rumped Swallow Tachycineta leucorrhoa
• Chilean Swallow Tachycineta leucopyga
• Bahama Swallow Tachycineta cyaneoviridis
• Golden Swallow Tachycineta euchrysea
• Brown-bellied Swallow Notiochelidon murina
• Pale-footed Swallow Notiochelidon flavipes
• Black-capped Swallow Notiochelidon pileata
• Blue-and-white Swallow Notiochelidon cyanoleuca
• White-banded Swallow Atticora fasciata
• Black-collared Swallow Atticora melanoleuca
• Brown-chested Martin Progne tapera
• Purple Martin Progne subis
• Grey-breasted Martin Progne chalybea
• Snowy-bellied Martin Progne dominicensis
• Southern Martin Progne modesta
• Brown-throated Sand Martin Riparia paludicola
• Sand Martin Riparia riparia
• Banded Martin Riparia cincta
• Congo Sand Martin Riparia congica
• Cameroon Mountain Rough Winged Swallow Psalidoprocne fuliginosa
• White-headed Rough Winged Swallow Psalidoprocne albiceps
• Black Rough-winged Swallow Psalidoprocne pristoptera
• Fanti Rough-winged Swallow Psalidoprocne obscura
• Square-tailed Rough Winged Swallow Psalidoprocne nitens
• White-backed Swallow Cheramoeca leucosternus
• Grey-rumped Swallow Pseudhirundo griseopyga
• Mascarene Martin Phedina borbonica
• Congo Martin Phedina brazzae
• Crag Martin Hirundo rupestris
• Rock Martin Hirundo fuligula
• Dusky Crag Martin Hirundo concolor
• Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
• Red-chested Swallow Hirundo lucida
• Angolan Swallow Hirundo angolensis
• Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica
• Welcome Swallow[?] Hirundo neoxena
• White-throated Swallow Hirundo albigularis
• Ethiopian Swallow Hirundo aethiopica
• Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
• White-throated Blue Swallow Hirundo nigrita
• Pied-winged Swallow Hirundo leucosoma
• White-tailed Swallow Hirundo megaensis
• Pearl-breasted Swallow Hirundo dimidiata
• Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea
• Black-and-rufous Swallow Hirundo nigrorufa
• Greater Striped Swallow Hirundo cucullata
• Lesser Striped Swallow Hirundo abyssinica
• Rufous-chested Swallow Hirundo semirufa
• Mosque Swallow Hirundo senegalensis
• Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica
• Striated Swallow Hirundo striolata
• Preuss's Cliff Swallow Hirundo preussi
• Angolan Cliff Swallow Hirundo rufigula
• Andean Cliff Swallow Hirundo andecola
• Tree Martin Hirundo nigricans
• South African Cliff Swallow Hirundo spilodera
• Red Sea Swallow Hirundo perdita
• Cliff Swallow Hirundo pyrrhonota
• Cave Swallow Hirundo fulva
• Indian cliff Swallow Hirundo fluvicola
• Fairy Martin Hirundo ariel
• Forest Cliff Swallow Hirundo fuliginosa
• House Martin Delichon urbica
• Asian house Martin Delichon dasypus
• Nepal house Martin Delichon nipalensis