English: Red-rumped Swallow

Russian: Рыжепоясничная ласточка

Mongolian: Монгол алтанхараацай, Монгол хараацай
German: Rotelschwalbe

French:  Hirondelle rounsseline
Japanese:  コシアカツバメ (Koshi-aka-tsubame)

Body length: 14-19 cm. Breeds on cliffs in mountain areas and along steep coasts, sometimes also in cavities on ruins, under bridges etc. Migrant, winters in tropical Africa. Builds a closed nest of mud with entrance tunnel, fixed to roof of cave, recess or similar site. Rare but regular vagrant to Britain & Ireland, mostly Mar-May and Aug-Nov. Often hunts insects high up in remote mountain districts.

Identification: Resembles Barn Swallow, having similar size and shape with long, pointed tail-streamers, but immediately told by pale rump, which at distance can look white (cf. House Martin) but at close ranges is light rusty-red at top and somewhat paler (sometimes whitish) to rear. Close views also reveal-sides are pale, not blue-black. Wings and tail dark brownish-black (tail without Barn Swallow’s white windos), mantle, scapulars and crown shiny blue-black. Red-rumped Swallows in flight are also identifiable from below at distance by their pale throat and breast and squared-off black undertail-coverts (white on Barn Swallow). At close range, underparts are seen to be pale rusty-buff or buff-white with very discreet, thin streaks. Flight intermediate between Barn Swallow and House Martin, clipped wing-beats but also a lot of gliding on straight wings. Juvenile: Shorter tail streamers, less blue gloss above, buff-white tips to tertials and many wing-coverts.