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Recordings
Scientific Name
Hirundo rustica
Arabic Name
الخطاف الشائع
Kuwaiti name
رقيعي
Family
Length
16.0 cm
Information
Abundant passage migrant, common winter and summer visitor. Although not been confirmed nesting in Kuwait, individuals may be seen throughout the year. Huge flocks pass through Kuwait, with up to 10000 recorded at one location in late April 2008.
Where in Kuwait
It is one of the most common Hirundines on passage, but many do appear to stay longer. They forage along the coastline, around inland pools with reed cover and cultivated areas and farmlands where irrigation attracts insects
In the world
It has an extremely large range and has undergone a small or statistically insignificant decrease over the last 40 years in North America. It breeds across most of North America, Europe and Asia, and before the onset of winter, this long-distance migrant travels southwards to spend the winter in tropical Africa, Central and South America, South Asia and Southeast Asia, Australia or Micronesia. It has the distinction of being the most widely distributed and abundant of all swallows, it is also one of the most familiar bird species in the world. The autumn southward migration takes several months, with most European birds travelling to Africa, while Asian birds travel to South Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia, and North American birds travel to Central and South America.
Local threats
Loss of habitat for roosting and pesticides which may kill it aerial prey