Memorandum to: The Director of Birds Australia

From: Birds Australia Rarities Committee (BARC)

Date: 5^th May 2006

Voting Members: Mike Carter Jamie Matthew

Glenn Holmes Rohan Clarke

John Hatch Andrew Silcocks

Tony Palliser Danny Rogers

cc.

Submission No 460: Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica Roebuck Plains, Broome, WA. 8^th – 25th February 2005. Submitted by: R. Coughlan & C. Sanderson.

This submission concerns the sighting of at least 3 Red-rumped Swallows H. daurica from Roebuck Plains, near Broome, WA. Sightings were made of an individual bird by guests at the observatory on the 8^th February 2005 and then subsequently by observatory staff until the 25^th February 2005. This record continuing a trend of annual ‘reports’ from the region.

The submission is well supported by a number of photographs of two individuals in flight which eliminate the similar Striated Swallow H. striolata (as yet unrecorded in Australia). The combination of creamy-buff underparts, apparent nuchal collar and lack of streaking on the rump are typical characteristics of a Red-rumped Swallow (see Carter 2000) and support the idenitification.

Members voted unanimously in favour of acceptance making this the 11th confirmed Australian record.

Selected Bibliography:

• Carter, M. 2000. Identification of Red-rumped and Striated Swallows Hirundo daurica and H. striolata in Australasia. Australian Birding 6 (2): 9–18.
• Cramp, S. 1988. Handbook of the birds of the Western Palearctic. Volume 5. OUP; Oxford.
• Grimmett, R., C. Inskipp & T. Inskipp. 1998. Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. Christopher helm. London.
• Turner, A. & C. Rose. 1989. A Handbook to the Swallows and Martins of the World. Christopher Helm, London.
• Vaurie, C. 1951. Notes on some Asiatic Swallows. American Museum Novitates no. 1529.

Verdict: Accepted

Tony Palliser

Chairman, Birds Australia Rarities Committee