page_title: List of birds of South Africa
section_title: Swallows
hierarchical_section_title: List of birds of South Africa / Swallows
caption_attribution_description: South African cliff swallow, Petrochelidon spilodera, at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, Gauteng, South Africa
context_page_description: South Africa is a large country, ranked 25th by size in the world, and is situated in the temperate latitudes and subtropics. Due to a range of climate types present, a patchwork of unique habitat types occur, which contribute to its biodiversity and level of endemism. This list incorporates the mainland and nearshore islands and waters only. The submerged though ecologically important Agulhas Bank is for most part inside its territorial waters. Offshore, South Africa's territory includes the Prince Edward Islands in the Subantarctic Indian Ocean.
  This list's taxonomic treatment and nomenclature are those of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2019 edition, except that South African spelling is used. Taxonomic changes are on-going. As more research is gathered from studies of distribution, behaviour and DNA, the order and number of families and species may change. Furthermore, different approaches to ornithological nomenclature have led to concurrent systems of classification.
  Unless otherwise noted, the list is that of BirdLife South Africa. Notes in the status column are also from this source.
context_section_description: Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae
  The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings, and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.
caption: South African swallow
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