Mosque Swallow

Hirundinidae: swallows and martins 59

Mosque Swallow 14û Moskeeswael MOSQUE SWALLOW Hirundo senegalensis 1 5 The Mosque Swallow occurs in the Transvaal 18û lowveld, particularly the Kruger National Park, the southeastern and northern Zimbabwean wood- lands, and the tall-tree woodlands of northern Botswana, and the Caprivi Strip and Owambo in 22û Namibia. Different races of this swallow occur 6 over much of Africa south of the Sahara where it 2 is usually patchily distributed. This species can be confused with the Redbreasted Swallow H. semi- 26û rufa but the white underwing coverts and throat are distinctive and its habitat preference is different from that of the Redbreasted Swallow. These two similar species have centres of abundance within 3 7 southern African woodlands. 30û Throughout much of its southern African range, it is associated with Mopane woodland, with scat- tered Baobab Adansonia digitata and Leadwood 4 8 Combretum imberbe trees. It is uncommon to 34û fairly common and localized in deciduous wood- 18û 22û 26û land and savanna with trees suitable for breeding, 10û 14û 30û 34û and also in riparian habitat with tall trees. It is a resident species but the model for northern Namibia and Botswana (Zone 1) may suggest some winter movement Recorded in 219 grid cells, 4.8% out of this region. Breeding was noted in most months of the Total number of records: 1156 year in Zimbabwe and the Transvaal (Zones 5 and 6). Mean reporting rate for range: 12.8% Tarboton et al. (1987b) reported breeding in the Transvaal November–January and Irwin (1981) reported breeding August–September, December–February and in April in Zimbabwe. The possibility of a bimodal breeding season, with peaks in spring and autumn, requires investigation. Reporting rates for vegetation types This species has extended its range recently and has been % 048 recorded further south in the Kruger National Park during the last two decades. Tarboton et al. (1987b) mentioned expan- Mopane 7.8 sion of its range south to Tshokwane (2431DD) by 1987, Okavango 3.6 while in 1992 it was recorded from just north of Skukuza Northern Kalahari 3.2 (2431DC), where it is now a rare resident. A southward spread Miombo 2.5 in Zimbabwe has also been noted (A.J. Tree pers. comm.). Arid Woodland 1.2 Moist Woodland 1.1 R.A. Earlé

20 1 5 20 10 10

20 2 6 20 10 10

20 3 7 20 10 10

Occurrence reporting rate (%) 20 4 8 20 Breeding reporting rate (%) 10 10

J ASONDJ FMAMJ J ASONDJ FMAMJ Models of seasonality for Zones. Number of records (top to bottom, left to right): Occurrence: 79, 0, 0, 0, 260, 357, 0, 0; Breeding: 0, 0, 0, 0, 5, 9, 0, 0. Hirundinidae: swallows and martins 69

Mosque Swallow