Red Rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica)

The red-rumped swallow (Cecropis daurica) is a small passerine bird in the swallow family. It breeds in open hilly country of temperate southern Europe and Asia from Portugal and Spain to Japan, India and tropical Africa. Swallows are birds that are often confused with the smaller house martins and swifts, though unrelated. A characteristic feature used to separate swallows from them is their longer forked tails, observable when in flight, that look almost like chopsticks. The groove between the forked tail of swallows is much deeper than those seen in swifts or martins, and easily distinguishable. These birds are often seen resting on wires in pairs and have feet developed for perching, just like sparrows, sunbirds or prinias. This pair was photographed in Tivim, Goa.