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The swallows, martins, and saw-wings, or Hirundinidae are a family of passerine songbirds found around the world on all continents, including occasionally in Antarctica. Highly adapted to aerial feeding, they have a distinctive appearance. The term "swallow" is used as the common name for Hirundo rustica in the UK [1] and Ireland. [2] .
SWALLOW definition: 1. to cause food, drink, pills, etc. to move from your mouth into your stomach by using the muscles…. Learn more.
May 18, 2024 · Swallow, any of the approximately 90 species of the bird family Hirundinidae (order Passeriformes). A few, including the bank swallow, are called martins (see martin; see also woodswallow; for sea swallow, see tern). Swallows are small, with pointed narrow wings, short bills, and small weak feet;
May 26, 2022 · Swallows are incredibly graceful songbirds, able to swoop and glide for hours as they chase small insects in midair. Most are very sociable, often gathering in flocks on roadside wires whenever they’re not flying. Beloved by bird-watchers, the birds are often found close to people, nesting around houses and farms.
Swifts, swallows, house martins and sand martins are all summer visitors to the UK. While the swift spends most of its time soaring high in the sky, the swallow or 'barn swallow' might be seen perching on a wire, or roosting in a reedbed. Here are our top tips to work out what you might have spotted!
The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) is the most widespread species of swallow in the world, occurring on all continents, with vagrants reported even in Antarctica. It appears to have the largest natural distribution of any of the world's passerines, ranging over 251 million square kilometres globally.
Swallows are small birds with dark, glossy-blue backs, red throats, pale underparts and long tail streamers. They are extremely agile in flight and spend most of their time in the air. They are widespread breeding birds in the Northern Hemisphere, migrating south in winter.
The swallow, or 'barn swallow', is a common summer visitor, arriving in April and leaving in October. It builds mud and straw nests on ledges, often in farm buildings and outhouses, or under the eaves of houses. Swallows are widespread and common birds of farmland and open pasture near water.
The barn swallow is familiar to birders and nonbirders alike. Learn more about this widely distributed swallow.
The sight of an early spring Swallow with its long, forked tail, red throat and white belly signals that summer is not far away. A long-distance migrant, many of our Swallows spend the winter months in South Africa.
