The Swallow is a familiar bird to many, yet all of its characteristics may not be known. The Swallow lives to function in aerial feeding manoevers and their wing strength and agility support that feat.  The Swallow is a sleek, plumpish bird of dark blue or green with slight gloss and white breasts and underparts. The dimensions of the Swallow can be tiny, from four to ten inches, and the weight might range from  four to twenty ounces.

While the Swallow may be known in Europe as the Barn Swallow, or as a Martin, the functions and colorations exist in striking variations. Bird watchers can master the intense varietal colorations to sight and record swallow travels over time.  The joined toes delimit real walking, and perch behavior or displaying a bobbling walk between flights is the intended evolved purpose of the short legs. Some species of Swallow may burrow through undergrowth and pick through dirt and leaves for likely worms and larvae, extending the uses of these feet productively.

Mountain habitat Swallows will have the typical brown and rufous reddish gray coloring that allows forest cover camouflage. The wisdom of nature’s paintbrush is found in the Swallow and many other birds. But the Swallow habit to select a nest site (by the male!) and use flight and courtship song to attract females.  Swallow song communicates anxiety, locale, flirtation, and in the Swallow young’uns begging for food.

Cave and cliff dwelling Swallows are glad of their brownish coloring. Swallows might be mud nesters where earth allows, and human habitation dwellings form excellent perch and shelter nest building opportunities. Swallows take their nesting bead from the wild but efficiently use man-made homes, barns, and structures to fashion strongly defended and sheltered nests. To the naked human eye, Swallow nests might look like mere mud piles, but their cushioning and thermal lining provide excellent fledging care.

The tiny beak might cause some to wonder how Swallows can make such a career of in-flight insect hunting. Powerful wing dynamics keep the Swallow airborne and poised to capture protein on the fly.  As the Swallows of Capistrano demonstrate, the widespread affection and attention these birds get, the general reaction can be estimated as high everywhere in the world. Although they are largely neither exotic nor belong to spectacularly tropical locale, Swallows and their migrational travels make many friends along the way. 

Why is a Swallow termed so interchangeably with a Martin? Because like the Martin, the Swallow is a tiny bird with the powerful wings is resident in many worldwide regions where migratory birds make their way South for the winter. Swallows and Matins stay in countries where likely insects are commonly plentiful and migrate to where insects stay in season throughout Asia and Africa. But common Martins of the Swallow family travel throughout Europe, Northern Africa and Asia to breed.

Please visit the Tropical Bird Forum for information about tropical birds.

Please visit the Tropical Bird Forum for information about tropical birds.

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