Greater striped swallow (Cecropis cucullata)

Larger and paler than the lesser striped swallow. Striping on the buffy underparts is paler and less well defined. Orange crown slightly paler, and rump paler rufous. Ear coverts whitish (and not rufous). Crown rufous-orange.

Juvenile duller with a reddish-brown crown and more heavily streaked underparts. Tail streamers reduced.

16 – 20 cm. 20 – 35 g.

Common intra-African breeding summer migrant in grassland, shrubland, savanna, agricultural lands and suburbia, as well as wetlands.

Birds of Southern Africa (2020).