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Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Overview
This remarkable bird travels to the U.K. each year from southern Africa, a distance of over 10,000 km. Each year they try to return to the previous years nest site and often have to do considerable repair work before taking up residence. Swallows choose to nest near water as they need access to wet mud, their principal building material. Numbers have declined in recent years due to changes in farming practices which have reduced the availability of insects and nest sites.
Description
The Swallow has a blue-black back, a red throat and whitish breast. The tail is deeply forked with long streamers which distinguish it from martins and swifts.
Distribution
Summer visitor arriving in the U.K. from late March. They over-winter in Africa.
Habitat
Mixed farmland which provides a rich and varied source of insects.
Breeding
Swallows build cup shaped nests from mud, lines with grass and feathers. 4 or 5 red spotted white eggs are laid and incubated for 14 days. Fledglings leave the nest about 21 days after hatching and are fed by the parents for a further week.
Food
Swallows eat a variety of insects caught on the wing and they will supplement this with small invertebrates from the ground in times of shortage. Our Swallow nest boxes can attract swallows to your garden.
Population Trends
There are just over 700,000 breeding pairs in the UK.
