Each spring, Swifts, Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins make one of nature’s most epic journeys, flying all the way from Africa to our shores to breed. At first glance, these avian athletes can look very similar, but there are some key differences between them. Have a read of our handy ID guide and soon you’ll know your Swifts from your Swallows.
They’re on the UK Green List. Swallows are widespread around the Northern Hemisphere.
Unlike Swifts, Swallows rarely venture into towns, preferring open countryside where flying insects are plentiful. They can often be seen around open water too. As autumn approaches, large groups of Swallows often congregate on overhead wires and in reedbeds before heading south, back to Africa.
Swallows are very graceful and acrobatic in flight, darting and gliding low to the ground in search of insects. You might see them skimming over lakes and rivers, scooping up water to drink.
People used to believe that Swallows hibernated at the bottom of ponds over winter! Now we know that they fly all the way to Africa in autumn, before returning to our shores in spring.
Migrating Swallows cover more than 200 miles a day, mainly during daylight, at speeds of 17–22 miles per hour!
Swallows have twittering, trilling calls which are distinctly different from the screams of Swifts.
Swallows like to nest in barns, sheds and other outbuildings. They build their cup-shaped nests from mud, usually on a beam, ledge or joist that’s sheltered from the elements. As the chicks grow, you might see their heads pop up over the rim of the nest to demand food from their parents.
And tail streamers are quite the talk of Swallow-town – female Swallows prefer to mate with males with longer streamers as it’s believed they will pass on better genes to their offspring!
Head outside and discover fascinating birds each month. Read on for top ID tips, what to listen for, and where to see them.
They are smaller than a Swift with blue-black upperparts, a white belly and a reddish-brown face and throat. The most noticeable feature is their deeply forked tails. They often fly low across fields and sometimes open water. Unlike the House Martin, they don't have a white rump. Look out for them perching on wires, especially late in summer when they are preparing to migrate.
House Martins, Swifts and Sand Martins can all look very similar to Swallows, however the others do not have a tail as long as the Swallow or a red throat so keep an eye out for these.
Swallows eat a range of flying insects which they will catch on the wing. These include aphids, bees, hoverflies and even moth caterillars hanging from trees.
Swallows build their nests out of mud in an open cup style within outbuildings, barns and sometimes even porches. They will choose locations close to feeding areas so often in open countryside.
Swallows nest once they arrive back from migration, mainly between May - September and can have at least two broods.
They live on average two years however the oldest ringed was 11 years old.
Yes, Swallows spend the spring and summer in the UK after wintering in South Africa.
They are found throughout the UK but scarcer in the far north of Scotland. Unlike Swifts, they tend to avoid cities and towns, preferring open countryside.
They arrive in April.
They will gradually leave the UK in September - October arriving in South Africa after six weeks of migration.
