Key information
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 on the wing. They are widespread breeding birds in the Northern Hemisphere, migrating south in winter.
Swallow numbers in the UK have fluctuated over the last 30 years with pronounced regional variation in trends.
What they eat:
A range of small invertebrates which are caught on the wing.
Measurements:
- Length:
- 17-19cm
- Wingspan:
- 32-35cm
- Weight:
- 16-25g
Population:
- UK breeding:
- 860,000 territories
Identifying features:
Swallow
