Swallows belong to the family Hirundinidae, and they are one of the most familiar bird species that live close to humans. Originating from Africa, they easily adapt to a life of aerial hunting, flying swiftly, and are a beautiful symbol heralding the arrival of spring.
- Common Name: swallow
- English Name: martin
- Scientific Name: Hirundinidae
- Origin: Africa
- Characteristics: Nesting in hollows
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Passeriformes
- Family: Hirundinidae
- Weight: 40 – 184 g
- Size: 10 – 24 cm
Habitat of Swallows
Swallows primarily inhabit hollows, found in mountainous or arid regions. They quickly adapt to aerial hunting in sparsely vegetated rural areas with few inhabitants or regions close to water bodies.
Physical Characteristics of Swallows
Swallows are skilled fliers with exceptional aerial skills.
- Swallows have a small, stout body with a short, soft bill; their jaws are strong, and they possess a wide mouth.
- They have long, narrow wings that taper to a point with 9 primary flight feathers. Their tail is long and deeply forked, slightly concave or square with a forked shape, consisting of 12 primary feathers. Females have longer tails than males.
- They have short legs, which are primarily used for perching on branches or power lines, rarely used for walking.
- Their feathers are dark blue or glossy green on top, simple or striped underneath, often white or brown. The outer tail feathers are longer than the inner ones.
- An adult swallow measures approximately 10 – 24 cm in length and weighs around 40 – 184 g.
Personality and Behavior of Swallows
- Swallows are skilled flyers with exceptional aerial skills; they spend most of their lives soaring through the sky, either in flocks or alone, depending on their preference. They only land when it is breeding season.
- As the cold season approaches, swallows quietly leave their habitats to avoid the cold and will return to the same place in spring. However, they rarely fly in flocks.
- Swallows are monogamous, choosing partners in a one-to-one relationship. They usually nest near their breeding sites when not migrating and return to these locations to build new nests and breed.
Reproductive Characteristics of Swallows
- Swallows typically nest in hollows, old buildings, towers, or human-made structures. Their nests are usually made of mud, clay, or plant materials. During the breeding season, males choose nesting sites and use their song and special flight patterns to attract mates.
- Females lay eggs, usually 1-6 at a time. Swallow eggs are white and typically hatch after 19 – 23 days of incubation. The newly hatched chicks are featherless and keep their eyes tightly closed.
- At this stage, both the male and female swallows care for their young; they bring back food balls containing 300 – 1,000 insects to feed them. The chicks will develop feathers and leave the nest after 6 – 10 weeks; once they fly away, they never return.
Differentiating Swallows from Swiftlets
Swallows have forked tails and perch on branches or power lines.
Swallows and swiftlets share many similarities in appearance. However, there are specific distinguishing features to differentiate these two bird species:
- Swallows: Have forked tails, perch on branches or power lines; their feathers are black or dark blue, and they have larger bills than swiftlets; they fly at lower levels with long, pointed wings, but they are short and broad.
- Swiftlets: Do not have forked tails and never perch due to weak legs; their feathers are black, and their bills are smaller than those of swallows; they fly at higher altitudes.
Some Other Interesting Facts
- Swallows, and the Hirundinidae family in general, choose mates based on tail length. They can eat, drink, sleep, and even mate in mid-air.
- Swallows are known as the fastest birds in the world, with maximum flight speeds (when not carrying prey) reaching about 113 – 185 km/h. Notably, these birds tend to fly 2 to 6 times faster in spring compared to autumn.
- On average, an adult swallow flies a total of about 4.5 million km in its lifetime, equivalent to 6 trips to the Moon or 100 trips around the Earth and back.
