Blue-and-white Swallow

SCI Name:  Pygochelidon cyanoleuca
Protonym:  Hirundo cyanoleuca Nouv.Dict.Hist.Nat. 14 p.509
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Hirundinidae / Pygochelidon
Taxonomy Code:  bawswa1
Type Locality:  Paraguay.
Author:  Vieillot
Publish Year:  1817
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

PYGOCHELIDON
(Hirundinidae; Ϯ Blue-and-white Swallow P. cyanoleuca) Gr. πυγη pugē  rump; χελιδων khelidōn, χελιδονος khelidonos  swallow; "[Synopsis] Basal joint only of middle toe adherent externally, and free at extreme end.  Tibial joint covered with feathers which extend a short distance along inner face of tarsus . . . . . Pygochelidon.   ...   PYGOCHELIDON, Baird.   Pygochelidon, BAIRD.  (Type Hirundo cyanoleuca.)  ...  This subgenus differs from its other allies with the nostrils superior, in having the toes more deeply cleft—the basal joint of the median being free at its extremity on the outer side, instead of being adherent to the middle, or even the end of the middle joint. From Petrochelidon it differs in the longer tarsi, which equal the middle toe and half its claw, not the middle toe alone; less completely feathered tarsi at upper end; and in wanting the bristles in the chin and at base of bill above, which are soft and smooth. While the nostrils in Petrochelidon appear in the dried skin to be entirely without membrane, in Pygochelidon they are bordered behind and internally for a short distance, without, however, being overhung.   ...   Atticora cyanoleuca.  ...  Golondrina de la timoneles negros, AZARA  ...  Hirundo melampyga, LICHT.   ... Entire crissum from anus black, glossed on surface with steel blue, the bases all dark plumbeous." (Baird 1865).

cyanoleuca / cyanoleucos / cyanoleucus
Gr. κυανος kuanos dark-blue; λευκος leukos white.
● ex “Martin pêcheur à ventre sablé” of Temminck 1807 (Halcyon).
● ex “Yahaná blanco y celeste” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 381 (syn. Porphyrula flavirostris).
● ex “Golondrina de los timoneles negros” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 303 (Pygochelidon).

SUBSPECIES

Blue-and-white Swallow (cyanoleuca)
SCI Name: Pygochelidon cyanoleuca cyanoleuca
cyanoleuca / cyanoleucos / cyanoleucus
Gr. κυανος kuanos dark-blue; λευκος leukos white.
● ex “Martin pêcheur à ventre sablé” of Temminck 1807 (Halcyon).
● ex “Yahaná blanco y celeste” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 381 (syn. Porphyrula flavirostris).
● ex “Golondrina de los timoneles negros” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 303 (Pygochelidon).

Blue-and-white Swallow (peruviana)
SCI Name: Pygochelidon cyanoleuca peruviana
peruana / peruanum / peruanus / peruvia / peruviana / peruvianus / peruviensis
Peru. Said to be named after Biru, a local Inca encountered by the conquistadores (although the name is also accredited to a Panamanian cazique). Until the early 18^th century the Viceroyalty of Peru included all Spanish possessions in South America.
● ex “Geai du Pérou” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 625, and de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Peruvian Jay” of Latham 1781 (syn. Cyanocorax yncas).
● ex “Coq de Roche du Pérou” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 745, and de Buffon 1770-1783 (Rupicola).
● Erroneous TL. Peru (= Brazil) (Tangara).
● Erroneous TL. Peru (= Tahiti) (Vini).

Blue-and-white Swallow (patagonica)
SCI Name: Pygochelidon cyanoleuca patagonica
patagonica / patagonicus
Patagonia, Argentina. When Magellan wintered on the coast of Patagonia in 1520 he traded with Amerindians, probably the Tehuelche who wore animal skins on their feet, whom he called Patagones big-footed, the name gradually attaching itself to the area.
● Antarctic Sea = South Georgia; ex “Patagonian Pinguin” of Pennant 1768 (Aptenodytes).
● Tierra del Fuego; ex “Patagonian Warbler” of Latham 1783 (Cinclodes).