Gray-rumped Swallow

SCI Name:  Pseudhirundo griseopyga
Protonym:  Hirundo griseopyga Oefv.Vet.-Akad.Forh. 7 p.107
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Hirundinidae / Pseudhirundo
Taxonomy Code:  gyrswa1
Type Locality:  Durban, Natal.
Author:  Sundevall
Publish Year:  1850
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

PSEUDHIRUNDO
(Hirundinidae; Ϯ Grey-rumped Swallow P. griseopyga) Gr. ψευδος pseudos  false; L. hirundo, hirundinis  swallow; "Similar disregard for structural characters has led astray the allocation of the Grey-rumped Swallow, Hirundo griseopyga Sundevall, which differs entirely in its weak and very small bill, the nostrils slit-like and wider open than in Hirundo, the forking of the tail much the same as in Hirundo, but the "streamer" shorter, and in size and colour more nearly approaching the Sand Martins; its nest is also said to be situated in a hole in the ground (cf. Sheppard, Journ. S. Afr. Orn. Un. v. 35, 1918), and doubtless its eggs will prove to be white, the species seeming to have an affinity to Hemicecrops.  No generic name being available, I propose to place the species in a new genus under the name of PSEUDHIRUNDO, type Hirundo griseopyga Sundevall." (A. Roberts 1922).

griseopyga / griseopygius / griseopygus
Med. L. griseum  grey; Gr. -πυγιος -pugios  -rumped  < πυγη pugē  rump.

SUBSPECIES

Gray-rumped Swallow (melbina)
SCI Name: Pseudhirundo griseopyga melbina
melbina
Specific name Hirundo melba Linnaeus, 1758 (subsp. Pseudhirundo griseopyga).

Gray-rumped Swallow (griseopyga)
SCI Name: Pseudhirundo griseopyga griseopyga
griseopyga / griseopygius / griseopygus
Med. L. griseum  grey; Gr. -πυγιος -pugios  -rumped  < πυγη pugē  rump.