White-backed swallows are endemic to Australia and have a wide population distribution on the continent.
Not listed
Endemic to Australia
At a glance
FamilySwallows
SizeSmall
RarityCommon
HabitatMarine and coastal; usually found over open ocean, offshore waters, islands, headlands, and other coastal areas.
Best timeMost reliable in New South Wales from September to October.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Louis Masarei
Range map
Range map
3776visible hotspots
19499visible records
5states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Prominent white upper back, with black belly and black strongly forked tail. Usually seen in small flocks. Compare Fairy and Tree Martins, which have pale rump rather than upper back, and Welcome Swallow, which has a completely dark back.
Behavior
Nests in earthen banks, including road cuts and river banks.
Gallery
Regional timing
Western Australia
South Australia
Northern Territory
Queensland
New South Wales
Victoria
Australian Capital Territory
Commonly confused with
Tree MartinPetrochelidon nigricansCompare this bird carefully in the field→Welcome SwallowHirundo neoxenaIn Australia, much less common Barn Swallow has a dark chest band and is much paler below, including parts of the underwing.→Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaUsually easy to identify with its long, forked tail and dark rump. Iridescent navy-blue above with a rich orange throat and forehead. Underparts vary across range, from bright buffy-orange to whitish. Occurs in any open habitat, especially large fields and wetlands. Listen for dry, scratchy “svit svit” calls. Note head and breast pattern and tail length to help separate from various similar species in Africa, Asia, and Australia (e.g., Welcome Swallow, Angolan Swallow, Pacific Swallow).→