THE redbreasted swallow is an inter-African migrant which arrives in the coastal region from August and departs again in March or April.
Their callnote is a plaintive ‘seeurrrr seeurrr’ and their song is soft and gurgling.
They seek out habitats in sweet grassveld, vleis, open bushveld and thornveld, and are often found solitary or in pairs. Their flight is comparatively slow and leisurely, with much gliding.
This swallow forages for aerial athropods over open grassland and clearings, and perches on wires and leafless twigs.
Breeding is mainly between September and February, after rains and when temperatures reach a mean maximum of 20C.
The nest is a bowl with a tubular entrance, built of mud pellets and lined with grass, feathers and wool.
The nest is stuck to the roof of culvert, antbear burrow, hollow termite mound or a hole in a bank, usually only a metre or less above ground.
It lays three to six glossy white eggs and incubation lasts 16 days. Nestling remain for 23 to 25 days.
The Zulu name is Bomvu iNkonjane and in Afrikaans, rooiborsswael.
