It is a word of Mapuche origin and means swallow. It is the name of a Chilean town, near the city of Osorno. It is also the name of a river in the same area and one of the local common names of a little bird whose scientific name is Tachycineta leucopyga of the family Hirundinidae. It is also known as Patagonian swallow or Chilean swallow.
PILMAIQUÉN of the mapudungun pilmaykeñ, "swallow"; 1 . locality located in the commune of Puyehue in Chile, approximately 45 km from the city of Osorno, and 5 km from the city of Entre Lagos. 2 . The Pilmaiquén River is a natural emissary watercourse of Lake Puyehue. Also called Rio Bueno. 3 . Hydroelectric power plant located 40 kilometers east of the city of Osorno. It was built between 1940 and 1944
